How to grow strawberries at home and enjoy fresh berries all year round

The taste of strawberries is associated with warm summer days, but what if you don't have the opportunity to grow these berries outdoors? Don't worry! With proper care and optimal conditions, strawberries can grow right in your home, providing you with fresh fruits all year round.

In this material, UNN shares tips on how to properly grow strawberries at home, which varieties are best suited for this, and when you can enjoy the harvest.

When to plant strawberries

You can grow strawberries indoors at any time of the year, as you are not dependent on weather conditions. However, it is recommended to sow strawberries for seedlings in late February or early March. It is important to carry out this process on time, because if you do it later, there is a possibility that the fruiting of strawberries will begin only next year.

But do all strawberry varieties suitable for growing at home?

For home cultivation, remontant strawberry varieties, which yield several harvests a year, are particularly suitable. Alpine varieties are recommended because they grow compactly, take up less space, and produce small but very tasty berries with a rich flavor. One popular variety is the pineapple relic, which has a sweet taste with notes of pineapple.

It is also worth paying attention to the Seascape and Albion varieties, which produce larger berries compared to alpine varieties but require more space. In addition, they are suitable for growing in containers.

Neutral varieties, which are not dependent on daylight hours, are also great for indoor cultivation, as they produce fruit at any time of the year.

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Care requirements

Temperature

Strawberries need room temperature for normal growth. The optimal temperature for growing strawberries is around 21 degrees Celsius, with slight fluctuations.

Lighting

Strawberries love a lot of light. Indoors, for best results, it is worth using additional grow lights to provide the plant with 12-14 hours of light per day. Insufficient lighting is one of the biggest mistakes when growing strawberries indoors.

Water

Strawberries also like regular watering, but it is important not to overdo it so as not to overwater the plant. Water should drain well to avoid root rot. Plants can be watered once a week, depending on soil moisture.

Monitor soil moisture by checking it with your finger every few days and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Soil

Strawberries prefer well-drained soil. Indoors, a universal loamy potting mix is best. The soil should not be too clayey or heavy. It should also be fertile, but loamy - almost soft.

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Propagation

When strawberries begin to ripen, they have a natural tendency to propagate by sending out runners that form new shoots. In container conditions, these shoots can stretch and hang down, trying to reach the ground. But don't worry — you can use them to increase the number of plants.

Prepare several new containers with well-drained soil to transplant these shoots. Initially, they will remain attached to the mother plant, but over time they will root in the new pots. After a few weeks, you will see new plants begin to grow, and when they flower (in about a month), you can separate them from the main bush. If necessary, prune the shoots for easy transplanting or to create separate plants. This method allows you to safely propagate plants and increase the yield without having to buy new seedlings.

Harvesting

Strawberries ripen in about a month after flowering. One of the main signs that the berries can already be picked is their rich red color.

To harvest berries, gently pull or cut the fruit, leaving about half an inch of stem next to the berry. Avoid damaging the plant, as this can affect further growth and yield.

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