How to Start a Strawberry Container Garden

Start strawberries in late winter to mid-spring to take advantage of natural summer growing seasons. Wait for air temperatures to reach 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a warm, friendly start.

Use pots, containers and beds that have drainage holes and hold at least 3 gallons of soil. Bring interest and individuality to the container garden with long beds, small and large decorative pots, and alternative containers such as buckets, metal pails, wooden boxes and small wheelbarrows.

Mix organic compost and potting soil in equal parts to give strawberry plants rich, moist and quick-draining foundations. Fill each container 3/4 full of potting mixture and then turn 6-24-24 granular fertilizer into the soil. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for fertilizer quantities, based on your pot sizes.

Plant strawberries at every 15 inches in large containers and by themselves in 3-gallon pots. Strawberries require adequate space for sun, air and growth, and fail in crowded situations. Plant the seedlings in holes as deep as their root balls to keep the crowns, or root-to-stem junctions, at soil level. Strawberries don't thrive in deep or shallow plantings.

Put the container garden in a site that gets full sun all day, with good air movement for circulation. Water each pot with 2 inches of water every week; fill the pots to the brim with water and let it sink in for full waterings.