These ideas to grow strawberries on a balcony prove you don’t need a big space to grow this juicy fruit! Or a lot of work!
If you have a balcony or a patio with sunshine, then your wish of having fresh, home-grown strawberries can come true.
Be it through window boxes or railing containers, here are the best ways to transform your balcony into a small-scale strawberry farm!
Best Strawberry Varieties to Grow in Balconies
Not all strawberry varieties are suited for balconies. Some need more space and care! Of course, many compact, ever-bearing, or day-neutral varieties can make your balcony a fruitful paradise. Here are the ones to pick!
- Alpine strawberries – do well in tight spaces, and most do not produce runners.
- Temptation variety – has a semi-trailing growth pattern and is perfect for hanging baskets.
- Mara des Bois variety – will give an exceptionally strong flavor and can be grown in balconies.
- Evie-2 – produces fruits almost all year long and begins much quicker than most other varieties.
Best Ideas to Grow Strawberries on a Balcony
1. In Window Boxes or Railing Planters
Did you know that strawberry plants send runners (stolons) to reproduce? When hung on railings or window sills, window boxes have enough width to support their horizontal growth. Also, strawberry plants have short roots, and most window boxes are not very deep, making them a good choice for the plant.
Choose a window box/ railing planter that is not very deep (about 6 inches will do) and wide enough to incorporate multiple plants and their runners. Then, fill it with a well-draining loamy soil, enriched with plenty of organic matter like compost.
Pro Tip: Strawberries prefer slightly acidic soil pH, ideally between 5.5 and 6.8. Test your soil and amend it, if necessary, use sulfur to achieve the optimal range.
Ensure that the soil remains constantly moist but has adequate drainage to allow excess water to seep through. You may even need to drill a few holes to allow the extra water to drain out. After that, hang the window box at a location exposed to 6 hours of full sunlight. Simple, right?
2. Grow Them in Pots or Containers
Keep it simple and stick to the basics with pots! First up, pay attention to the pot’s material. Plastic pots retain moisture for longer periods of time and you can easily move them as well, while terracotta pots give a natural look but dry out quickly due to their porous texture. According to your specific environment and needs, choose the one that works best for you.
Try getting a container that can accommodate the plant’s spreading size. Any 8-10 inches deep pot should do well, but make sure it is not too deep, as this will require more watering.
Again, fill it with the right potting mix, which includes loamy soil, organic content, and perlite. Keep the pot on a rolling or moving stand so you can quickly shift the pot to the best spot on the balcony whenever you want!
Here’s a Pro Tip: Mulch around the base of the plants with straw or pine needles to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the fruits clean.
3. Try Hanging Baskets
Though hanging baskets won’t support the runners, the strawberries can spill over the edges, reducing spoilage due to soil contact.
For starters, choose a large hanging basket (10 inches wide or a DIY one like this) and hang it from a reasonable location—low enough to be accessible to tend to the plant but high enough not to get in the way.
Since the planter is suspended, it might dry out quickly, so you must water it frequently to keep the soil constantly moist. The best choice is to hang the containers off the edge of the balcony, where nothing can obstruct them, to allow maximum sunlight exposure.
You can also pair your strawberries with these fruits if you’re going to recreate this idea!
4. Grow Bags for Growing Strawberries on a Balcony
You can also try the boho way of growing strawberries using grow bags. They provide perfect drainage, permeability, and aeration. Plus, the large size will help you grow many plants in a single bag.
For healthy strawberries, you will need at least a 5-gallon grow bag. Make sure the fabric is strong enough to handle some wear and tear. Once you fill it with the soil, just like a regular pot, place these bags in a sunlight-rich spot on your rooftop or balcony.
The watering frequency is relatively higher than the others on this list, as the holes in the fabric allow quick evaporation. And when you do all this, why don’t you try these tips for growing big strawberries?
Occasionally, dip your finger in the soil to see if the plants need watering. And did we tell you that you can also start growing these beauties using scraps? Here’s how!
5. A Vertical Strawberry Garden!
Mounting planters on the wall or having shelves can create a vertical strawberry garden for you! Fix those planters firmly so they can support the weight of the potting mix, water, and a mature strawberry plant.
Also, make sure there are holes for the plants to extend out of. The leaves, runners, or fruits will poke out of these sections. Attach the planter away from the shadows of overhanging baskets or cantilevers; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight will produce good results. The best option is a south-facing balcony.
Pro Tip: Feed your strawberry plants with a diluted half-strength balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10, every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
6. Strawberry Ladder Growing
A ladder garden is a fantastic way to maximize space on a balcony while keeping your strawberry plants organized. The tiered design ensures that each level gets ample sunlight and air circulation.
You can use an old wooden or metal ladder and place planter boxes on each step. There’s also the option of building a DIY ladder shelf with slanted tiers to accommodate multiple plants. Just ensure that the base is stable, so it doesn’t tip over.
Watering from the top will let moisture trickle down, helping lower levels stay hydrated. But keep an eye on the soil to ensure the plants at the top don’t dry out too quickly.
Pro Tip: You should try placing small companion plants like basil or marigold in the lower tiers to deter pests and improve growth.
7. Strawberry Tower Idea
Why don’t you try a strawberry tower like this? You can either buy a ready-made tower planter or create a DIY version using stacked pots, PVC pipes, or even repurposed buckets with holes cut into the sides.
If you’re using PVC pipes, cut evenly spaced holes around the surface where the plants will grow. Also, check out these stacked pot ideas here!
- Drill drainage holes in each level to prevent waterlogging.
- Fill the tower with nutrient-rich, well-draining potting mix. A blend of compost, perlite, and peat moss works well.
- Plant strawberry seedlings in the holes, allowing their leaves to spread out.
Pro Tip: If you live in a region with harsh summers, consider wrapping the tower with a thin layer of burlap to reduce water evaporation and protect the roots from excessive heat.
8. Make a Strawberry Pyramid
Here’s an idea you may not have seen before–a plant pyramid! This setup provides excellent drainage and sunlight exposure for all plants, preventing overcrowding.
You just have to create a wooden structure resembling or arrange crates to create a multi-tiered setup. Find the detailed DIY here to make this!
Growing strawberries in a pyramid reduces the risk of pests and soil-borne diseases since the berries don’t touch the ground. Plus, the layered structure makes harvesting much easier!
Pro Tip: Stain or seal the wood to protect it from moisture and extend the life of your pyramid planter.
9. Make a Hydroponic Setup
Hydroponic farming uses water instead of soil, so you won’t have to worry about the potting mix. Now, you can try the Kratky method or the Deep Water Culture (DWC) setup. The former is much simpler, using no pumps or electricity, and is best for domestic balcony use, but DWC will have a quicker yield.
The main thing to keep in mind is that the water solution should have nutrients to provide the proper nourishment for growth. If doing it indoors, you will need to install grow lights in the setup. But they’re not too much trouble.
With a little creativity and these tips, your balcony can become a thriving strawberry patch, providing you with delicious, fresh berries all season long. Enjoy your harvest!
