How to Grow Strawberries in Window Boxes

Live in an apartment or flat? No problem - you can grow strawberries in window boxes on your windowsill either inside or out! Got a balcony? Grow strawberries in hanging baskets and pick the fruit as you step out to look at the view.

Growing strawberries in window boxes means you won't have to worry about slugs or rot and there is no long trek to the strawberry patch in the rain!

However, window boxes or hanging baskets do need careful watering - the compost dries out very quickly on a hot day, and obviously there is less compost in a window box than in a strawberry planter or pot, hence you will also need to think about adding a fertilizer sooner.

The instructions below are designed for window boxes. If planting up a hanging basket, the process is more or less the same, with the exception of the preparing the basket before planting - full instructions for this stage are usually provided with the kits.

How to Grow Strawberries in Window Boxes

You will need: a window box, potting compost (if possible with fertilizer already added), some gravel, pebbles or hydroponic material, and either strawberry seeds or strawberry plants.

	You really want to use the deepest window box you can find, to avoid too much moisture being lost - the deeper the box, the more water it can hold and the slower the compost will dry out. Put a layer of gravel, pebbles or hydroponic material at the bottom of the window box, approx. 1 inch thick, to help drainage (we use the hydroponic stuff).
	Fill the box with compost until you reach about 2 inches from the rim. Firm the compost down lightly and refill with more compost if necessary. Ensure the compost is damp, but not wet. We REALLY recommend you include hydroponic balls in the compost, as these will help the water retention. Just sprinkle a handful or so with the compost while filling below the planting level.
	Pop your strawberry plants into the box, spreading the roots out evenly if transferring from a different part of the garden. If you are growing strawberries from seed, fill the compost to about 1 1/2 inches from the rim and spread the seeds out evenly along the edges. The plants don't want to be backed up against the side of the box, but appreciate a space of about 1/2 inch between themselves and the window box wall. (and yes, we have massively overplanted this one ... we just have sooo many plants!)
	Add compost to about an inch from the top of the box, firming each plant in gently as you go along. Water generously and don't worry if the plants look a bit wilted to begin with - they will pick up within a few days.

Tips for Successfully Growing:

Remember to water VERY regularly and add liquid fertilizer after about 6 weeks.

If you have planted seeds, keep the box or basket in a warm place until the seeds have germinated and the young plants have established themselves, then slowly acclimatise them to living outdoors - unless you intend to continue to grow strawberries on the inside windowsill!

The plant will benefit from being placed on a windowsill or balcony where they receive a lot of sunlight, so no north-facing walls please!

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