IT’S no secret that buying fresh fruit isn’t always cheap, but did you know growing your own is easier than you might think.
In fact, you can grow juicy strawberries inside year-round with a few savvy tricks.
Getting the perfect about of light is key to juicy strawberries[/caption]
You can enjoy fresh strawberries year-round with these tips[/caption]
If you don’t have to outdoor space to grow fruit, growing strawberries inside is a great option.
First, you need to find the right type of strawberries to grow, Jennifer Holston, a garden coach and home hydroponics specialist, told MarthaStewart.com that everbearing strawberries are a great pick.
The variety is a good choice for indoor growing since they grow in mounds which take up less space, she explained.
“The berries are smaller, but the flavour is concentrated and bright,” she said.
“Some alpine varieties can produce fruit from seeds planted in the same year. A favourite of mine is alpine heirloom pineapple—it produces sweet, yellow strawberries with hints of pineapple.”
So, what do you need to know before planting?
You don’t need to wait for a specific time of your to plant them, since you’re not depending on the weather.
That said, live plants might only be available to buy during growing season.
Once you have planted your strawberries however, there are some other adjustments to make for growing indoors.
Firstly, room temperature will be fine for the fruit as it grows, meaning about five degrees in either direction of 20C should be fine, the pro said.
You might also have to make some small adjustments for lighting, since strawberries need plenty of sun to thrive.
The pro suggested keeping container-grown strawberries in a south-facing for as long as possible.
“Most strawberries are long-day, photoperiod plants,” Jennifer explained.
“This means the plant has receptors that detect the daylight hours. For these strawberries, 12 hours is the magical amount of light per day to trigger flowering.”
So, if your strawberries aren’t getting the necessary 12-14 hours, you might have to use “supplemental grow lights” as well.
As for watering the fruit, Strawberries need plenty of water to grow – but it can be easy to overdo it.
Just make sure you check the soil’s moisture regularly to make sure it’s not too dry or wet.
Well-drained soil is important too, so avoid anything heavy and stick to a softer texture.
Finally, when it’s time to harvest the fruit of your labour, make sure they are completely red, with no pink or white areas.
Just cut them roughly half an inch above the berry and enjoy!
What to grow in a greenhouse
GARDENING Express shared their favourite easy-to-grow greenhouse vegetables, fruit, herbs & flowers.
Fruit and vegetables:
- Carrots
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Spinach
- Turnips
- Kale
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Peppers
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Chillies
- Lemons
Herbs:
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Bay Laurel
- Thyme
- Sage
- Mint
Flowers:
- Violets
- Peace Lily
- Marigolds
- Daisies
Source: gardeningexpress.co.uk
