How to Grow Strawberries in Pots, Beds, and Baskets
Owen Petrakis · Oct 2, 2026 · 6 min read
Quick answer
Strawberries are one of the most rewarding fruits for small spaces. Here is how to get a good crop and keep plants productive.
Homegrown strawberries taste far better than most shop-bought ones, and plants are cheap and easy to grow in containers, raised beds, or hanging baskets.
Plants are most productive for about three years, so plan to replace them on a rolling basis.
1 Choosing plants
Buy certified disease-free plants rather than taking runners from an old, tired patch.
- ✓Summer-fruiting (June-bearing) — one big crop over a few weeks
- ✓Everbearing (perpetual) — smaller crops from early summer to autumn
- ✓Alpine — tiny, intensely flavoured berries; tolerates some shade
2 Planting
Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot in rich, well-drained soil or peat-free compost. Set the crown — where leaves meet the roots — level with the soil surface; too deep and it rots, too shallow and it dries out. Space plants about 30–45 cm apart in beds.
3 Care through the season
Water regularly, especially in containers, aiming at the soil rather than the leaves. Feed with a high-potash fertiliser once flowers appear. Tuck straw or mats under the fruit to keep it clean, and net plants against birds.
4 After fruiting
Cut back old leaves on summer-fruiting varieties after harvest to let fresh growth through. Pot up a few healthy runners to replace older plants, and remove the rest so the parent plant’s energy goes into next year’s crop.
This is general gardening information. Results depend on your climate, soil, and conditions. Follow label directions for any fertiliser or treatment, and check whether plants are toxic to pets or children before bringing them home.