Growing Strawberries in Vertical Garden: A Practical Guide

Imagine looking out the window and seeing beautiful, juicy and delicious strawberries dangling there from a wall of greenery, waiting to be picked and eaten. Does this sound like a dream? With a strawberry vertical garden, this dream becomes a reality! In this article, we reveal the secrets of growing delicious strawberries in your own vertical garden.

Vertical gardens are the perfect solution for anyone who wants to reap the fruits of their labor in the city or with limited outdoor space. Or if you just love convenience! These green walls are not only space-saving but also pleasing to the eye, both indoors and out. And let's face it: strawberries are the perfect candidate for such a garden, thanks to their compact shape and exuberant green leaves.

In this article, we'll take you on a journey of discovery through the process of setting up your own vertical strawberry garden. We will research the ideal strawberry varieties, explore different vertical garden systems and guide you through the process of setting up and maintaining your green paradise. By the end of this journey, you'll be ready to roll up your sleeves and create your own vertical strawberry oasis. So grab a cup of tea, sit down and let's explore the wonderful world of vertical strawberry gardens together!

Thoroughbreds

These strawberry varieties produce fruit throughout the summer, allowing you to enjoy a steady supply of fresh strawberries throughout the season. Some popular bear-through varieties are:

• Mara des bois
  This cross between wild and cultivated varieties is known for its intensely aromatic flavor. Although the fruits are smaller, the taste is absolutely heavenly.
• Favori
  Firm cone-shaped fruit with a delicious flavor. Has a good shelf life.
• Furore
  Large, glossy fruits with a full, sweet flavor. The Furore has good disease resistance.
  
• Ostara
  A compact grower with a delicious sweet flavor. Well suited for continuous harvest

Short-bearing

• Elsanta
  Large juicy fruits with excellent flavor. Is common in the Netherlands.
• Daroyal
  Royal treat for your vertical garden. Delicious large and juicy fruits with a rich and full flavor.
• Verdi
  Verdi strawberries are known for their uniform shape and deep red color. Combined with a juicy texture and perfectly balanced flavor.
• Falco
  The Falco is a short-bearing strawberry that will make your vertical garden shine with glossy, bright red fruits. Gives good yields and excellent flavor.

Tips for choosing the right variety

• Consider your climate
  Choose strawberry varieties that thrive in your specific climate and region to ensure the best chance of a successful harvest.
• Determine your harvest preference
  Depending on whether you want to pick strawberries throughout the season or want a larger crop at one time, you can choose a perpetual or short-bearing variety.
• Taste and discover
  Try tasting different varieties of strawberries before deciding which ones to plant in your vertical garden. Or plant different varieties in your vertical garden so you can explore multiple flavors and harvest at different times.

To create a successful vertical strawberry garden, it is very important to choose an appropriate structure and system to suit your needs. In this section, we will discuss different types of vertical garden structures and the best systems for growing strawberries so that you can make an informed decision.

• Vertical planter
  A vertical planter is specially made to grow a plant vertically one above the other. They are often easy to hang and often include a watering system. You can fit many different plants in a small space with a vertical planter, making them ideal for creating a large vertical garden.
• Hanging planters
  A hanging planter or bag is meant to hold one plant. For example, you can hang them scattered on your balcony or on a fence. You can often hang the planter from a rope or a hook.
• Plant bags
  Plant bags are a simple and often inexpensive solution for hanging many plants vertically one above the other. They are often made of felt or cloth and have a protection on the back to prevent soil and water from leaking through. Plant bags often break down quickly and are poor at retaining water because soil is exposed to wind and sun.
• Pallet Gardens
  An eco-friendly and budget-friendly option, pallet gardens use recycled wooden pallets converted into vertical planters. These structures are easy to make and adapt to your specific needs.

When choosing the best system for your vertical strawberry garden, it is important to consider factors such as available space, budget and the amount of plants you want to grow. In general, hanging planters or plant bags are ideal for when you want to create a vertical garden in an inexpensive and quick way. Vertical planters immediately give many additional benefits such as sturdiness, robustness and easy watering of plants. You can create a pallet garden if you find this a nice solution to grow plants vertically.

Choosing the right system for your vertical strawberry garden will ensure healthy growth and an abundant harvest of delicious, fresh strawberries.

Now that you're familiar with the different strawberry varieties and vertical garden systems, it's time to get started with your own strawberry vertical garden. In this section, we'll discuss supplies and preparations.

Before you begin, make sure you have the following supplies on hand:

• Selected strawberry variety (plants or seeds).
• Vertical garden structure (vertical planter, plant rack, pallet garden or PVC)
• Good quality potting soil
• Garden tools (shovel, watering can, pruning shears)
• Possibly fertilizers and mulch

Choose a location with adequate sunlight, as strawberries need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day to thrive. Also make sure there is adequate air circulation and drainage to prevent diseases and fungal problems.

The following steps will get your complete strawberry vertical garden ready.

1. Set up your chosen vertical garden system according to the accompanying instructions.
2. Fill the planters or bags with high-quality potting soil, making sure to slightly compact the soil or supplement it with such things as coconut fiber to prevent it from drying out too quickly.
3. Plant the selected strawberry plants or seeds at the recommended spacing and depth, usually about 30 cm apart. For seeds, use about 0.5-1 cm depth.
4. Water the strawberry plants or seeds immediately after planting, making sure to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
5. If necessary, add fertilizer to the plants according to the recommended dosage and frequency for the specific strawberry variety.
6. Protect strawberry plants from pests such as snails and birds by placing physical barriers such as nets or snail traps.
7. Keep your strawberry plants healthy by regularly checking for signs of diseases or pests and taking timely action.

By following these steps, you can successfully establish your own strawberry vertical garden and enjoy a bountiful harvest of tasty, fresh strawberries. Remember to water, fertilize and prune the plants regularly to keep them healthy and growing well.

A successful vertical strawberry garden requires regular care and maintenance to ensure that your plants stay healthy and produce an abundant crop. In this section, we discuss important aspects of caring for and maintaining your strawberries, including watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control, and harvesting your strawberries.

Strawberry plants need regular watering, but they don't like wet feet. Give your plants enough water to keep the soil evenly moist, but make sure no stagnant water remains in the planters. In warmer months, you may need to water more often.

Fertilize your strawberry plants with a balanced fertilizer according to the recommendations for the specific species. Generally, a fertilizer with a ratio of 10-10-10 (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) is appropriate. Use fertilizer sparingly and according to package directions to avoid over-fertilization.

Check your strawberry plants regularly for signs of diseases and pests, such as leaf spots, wilting, yellow leaves or feather damage. If necessary, use biological or chemical pesticides to control diseases and pests, but always follow recommended guidelines for their use.

Physical barriers such as nets and snail traps can help protect your strawberries from birds, snails and other pests.