Care of Container-grown Strawberries

Position the strawberry container where it will receive six to eight hours of sunshine each day. Keep the container on a deck or porch where temperatures stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 F at night.

Water container-grown strawberries at least twice a week during the growing season. Run water into the container until the soil feels moderately moist at a depth of 3 inches. Let the surface of the soil dry out slightly before you water the strawberry plants again.

Feed container-grown strawberries once a month during the growing season from mid March until September. Apply a granular, slow-release, 10-10-10 formula fertilizer to the soil according to the label directions. Work the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 3 inches. Water thoroughly after feeding.

Spread a 1/2-inch layer of mulch around the base of each strawberry plant to keep the soil moist and cool between watering times. Use straw or pine straw to mulch around the plants rather than wood chips, which are too heavy. Replace the mulch each April.

Cut back the strawberry plants in late summer with pruning shears. Trim back the stems to 1/2 inch. Spread straw or pine straw over the plants to protect them from temperature fluctuations in winter. Move the container to a cool, bright and sheltered area two weeks before the first hard frost.