I just bought 25 bare-root Albion everbearing strawberries and I'm located in California. I'm exploring my options for planting. I found a couple of grow towers: one from Gardens Alive and another called Mr. Stacky. Do you think they'll hold enough strawberries? Also, I'm considering using traditional ground planting, but my soil is really dry, rocky, and clayey. If the towers don't work out, would 4-inch nursery pots be sufficient for peak growth? What pot size do they actually need?
3 Answers
I've had a rough time with tiered planters like those. In my experience, the middle layers are often underutilized and it can be a hassle. Instead, I recommend going for a raised bed, which has worked wonders for my strawberries! Just be careful with the cost if you're on a budget.
Strawberries are pretty resilient plants! They can grow in all kinds of conditions. I had some escape my garden bed and they're thriving even in rocks! If you do plant in the ground, just watch out for ants and other pests; I've had issues with that too. But in a tower, you can reduce those problems since slugs and pests can be a pain.
I think planting in the ground might be my best option, but I'm really concerned about my ant problem ruining them.
If you've got slugs or other pests, definitely go for a tower! I had a great experience with mine this year after years of struggling with ground planting. They keep the plants elevated and make it harder for the pests to reach them.
That does sound better, but I'm not sure I can handle the cost of a raised bed right now.