My Strawberry Pot Arrived Today!

[amykhar]

I'm so excited. I have 4 tomato plants, 2 basil plants and 8 pepper plants growing in pots on my front sidewalk. Now, I will be able to add a strawberry crop to my little farm.

In the back, I planted a raspberry bush, but I don't expect berries from it for this season, and maybe not even next season. But strawberries will be something fun for the girls to harvest this summer.

Amy

[lynnzop[$]]

I love fruit plants. Watch out for the birds once they start bearing fruit!!

[emeleel]

I think the birds ate every blackberry in the woods. But there are wild strawberries and blueberries, as well as some other things we think are edible, so maybe those will make up for the loss of the blackberries. My kids LOVE picking and eating fresh berries.

[amykhar]

Because I'm growing in a pot, I think it might be easy for me to protect the berries with netting or even some sort of cage over the pot. I'm more worried about the neighbor kids at this point.

[mtbat]

strawberry pots are awsome-and you can grow other stuff in them as well-they make great self contained herb gardens... I used to have two, when I moved and my ex helped me the strawberry pots never made it to my new/old(townhome #Q$%$%$#)-somehow they ended up in his mother's back yard I think I've mentioned this-I've come to terms with it though-at least she actually USES them every year

[amykhar]

I got my strawberry (and thyme and sage) plants planted in the new strawberry pot yesterday. I'm interested in seeing how the plants like 'apartment' life.

[Magick1]

When's a good time to start these in Iowa, does anybody know?

I wanted to set up a potted tomato plant, but am not sure how to set it all up? Regular soil? Special?

No clue here....you could say that I am clueless !

[theworm[$]]

sounds like a question for Cindy!!!

[conradd]

You can use regular potting soil for container tomatoes. If you have a place for a hanging basket, consider doing an upside down tomato plant. It eliminates the need for staking the branches or installing a cage once the tomatoes get heavy. To do this, buy a cheap plastic hanging planter or use a wire basket lined with coconut fiber. I've tried both - they both work fine. Cut a hole in the bottom of the basket or fiber, and stick the tomato plant through so that the roots are on the top of the fiber and the leafy part of the plant will hang down through the basket. Now, hang the basket from something and fill the basket with dirt. Soak with water. You can also plant something in the top of the basket if you wish. I've tried basil and it works but it needs water on a regular basis - the tomatoes do too, but they're a bit more forgiving. Plus, you need to pinch the basil or else it gets ungainly in a hurry.

[Magick1]

conradd said

You can use regular potting soil for container tomatoes. If you have a place for a hanging basket, consider doing an upside down tomato plant. It eliminates the need for staking the branches or installing a cage once the tomatoes get heavy. To do this, buy a cheap plastic hanging planter or use a wire basket lined with coconut fiber. I've tried both - they both work fine. Cut a hole in the bottom of the basket or fiber, and stick the tomato plant through so that the roots are on the top of the fiber and the leafy part of the plant will hang down through the basket. Now, hang the basket from something and fill the basket with dirt. Soak with water.

Wow, I had never heard of that...but, it makes a tremendous amount of sense! Thanks!

[wivabef]

When I saw this title I said, "Hey... I didn't know it came in flavors!"

[jgibson2[$]]

You never know which thread will be dangerous to your keyboard

[amykhar]

Hmmm. I wonder if I could cross some with my strawberries and get some flavored stuff?

[mtbat]

we bought some not, quite strawberry pots-but multiple holed pots-not sure what to call them-this last weekend for flowers, strawberrys and herbs... they are small and flat-not tall like regular strawberry pots. there is a large hole in the center and 4-6 holes around the side to plant stuff.

we also bought tomatoes, and a bunch of flowers. and discovered the previous owner went cherry crazy and there are like 10 cherry bushes against the back fence. which we may get a few, if the deer don't get them first.

[eris esoteric]

wivabef said

When I saw this title I said, "Hey... I didn't know it came in flavors!"

So, I *was* gonna say that I've obviously been working at the convenience store too long... what's *your* excuse?

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

wivabef said

When I saw this title I said, "Hey... I didn't know it came in flavors!"

OK I bit my lip to avoid saying this since the first day it posted!

[conradd]

mtbat said

we also bought tomatoes, and a bunch of flowers. and discovered the previous owner went cherry crazy and there are like 10 cherry bushes against the back fence. which we may get a few, if the deer don't get them first.

One thing you can do is to wrap up soap slivers in pieces of tissue and hang them on the tree before the fruit sets. The deer will nibble on the soap and learn to avoid the tree for the rest of the season.

[amykhar]

Just about every plant in the strawberry pot died in the last two days. No idea why