Here’s a simple step by step guide on how to plant strawberries in a gutter. Using a gutter will help organize your strawberry plants and minimize weeds.
We put strawberries in a basket not long ago, and they’re doing great! We love strawberries and want a lot of them, so we chose to plant some in a gutter.
A few years ago the kids and I went to pick strawberries at a strawberry patch. We try to help the kids understand that food doesn’t magically appear at the grocery store. So growing and harvesting food is a great hands on way to teach them this.
It was fun to pick strawberries, and Mark and I have dreamed of having our own strawberry patch ever since.
As a newbie gardener with limited space, I’m always seeking creative ways to maximize my planting real estate. After tasting juicy homegrown strawberries at a friend’s home, I decided to try growing these sweet berries myself – even though I only have a tiny patio.
That’s when I discovered the brilliant solution of growing strawberries vertically! Training the vines up fences and trellises allows strawberry plants to thrive even in tight spots. After some experimenting, I’ve gathered lots of tips to share on successfully growing strawberries on fences. Keep reading for everything I’ve learned about this fun and productive gardening method!
Why Go Vertical with Strawberries?
Strawberry plants have a sprawling growth habit, spreading long runners across the ground. For small-space gardeners like me, letting them sprawl makes strawberries a challenge to grow.
But I don’t have room for flattened rows of berries spreading everywhere. So I looked for an alternative and found that growing strawberries vertically has lots of benefits:
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Saves space, Training the vines upward frees up precious square footage
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Improves airflow and reduces disease. Lifting berries off the ground prevents mold and rot.
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Makes picking easier. Bringing the ripe fruits up to waist height saves lots of bending and kneeling!
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Maximizes light exposure Vertical training ensures the berries get sun from all angles,
With advantages like these, I was sold on giving vertical strawberry gardening a try!
Choosing the Right Fence or Trellis
The first step in growing strawberries vertically is setting up an appropriate support structure. You’ll need a fence, trellis, or other vertical fixture for the vines to climb.
Ideally, choose a sunny, south-facing wall or fence made of sturdy wood, metal, wire, or even plastic lattice. The support should be angled slightly backward to catch afternoon sun.
For small spaces, compact A-frame or pyramid-shaped trellises work wonderfully to maximize vertical space. Sturdy posts are key if going the trellis route.
Make sure your support structure is firmly installed and anchored. It will need to hold significant weight once strawberry vines and fruits fill in.
Selecting the Best Strawberry Varieties
When selecting strawberry varieties for vertical growing, trailing types are ideal. Look for runners that dangle down when left unsupported. Here are some great vertical strawberry varieties:
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Chandler – Reliable, sweet berries on long runners. Great for hanging baskets.
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Seascape – Vigorous vines perfect for training up or hanging down. Highly resistant to disease.
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Portola – Classic flavor with loads of big berries on long vines. A proven vertical grower.
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Albion – Impressively huge, sweet fruits on trailing plants great for containers and heights.
For something unique, try white strawberry varieties like Pineberry or White Carolina. They’ll look amazing cascading down a vertical support!
Preparing Strawberry Plants for Planting
Once you’ve selected plants, it’s time to get them ready for transplanting. Here are some tips:
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Inspect root systems and trim any extra long roots to 6 inches max. This encourages branching roots to establish better.
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Check for signs of disease and only plant healthy, vigorous runners. Discard any iffy looking plants.
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Soak bare root plants in water for 30 minutes before planting to rehydrate them.
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Try dipping roots in transplant or root stimulator solution to reduce shock.
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Keep young plants out of direct sun and wind until it’s time to transplant.
Proper prep gives vertically grown strawberries the best start.
How to Plant Vertically Grown Strawberries
Now comes the fun part – time to get planting! Follow these steps to plant your strawberries vertically:
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Fill supports like fences or trellises with high quality potting mix. Commercial vertical gardening bags also work well.
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Leave 12-15 inches between plants to prevent overcrowding and let vines spread out.
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Plant strawberries at the top of supports and let runners drape downward. Or go bottom-up and train vines to climb.
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Plant roots fairly shallow, keeping the crown just above soil level. Deep holes can drown strawberry roots and rot the plant.
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Water newly planted berries well. Mist often the first week to prevent moisture stress while roots establish.
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Apply mulch around plants to keep soil moist and cool. But don’t bury crowns too deep in mulch.
With good care at planting time, your vertical strawberries will take off!
Caring for Growing Strawberry Vines
Once planted, vertically grown strawberries need proper care and training:
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Check soil moisture frequently. Water when top few inches become dry. Avoid soggy soil.
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Fertilize monthly with a balanced 10-10-10 or tomato fertilizer to feed heavy fruiting.
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Prune off any flowers the first year to let vines focus on establishing. Removing runners also directs energy into the mother plant.
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Train vines to climb supports using plant ties or gentle weaving through wire or lattice.
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Monitor for pests like spider mites, aphids, or slugs. Treat organically at first sight.
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Pick ripe berries often to encourage more fruit production. Longer vines will keep flowering and fruiting all season.
With a little attentive TLC, your vertical strawberry plants will flourish!
Harvesting Vertically Grown Berries
One of the very best parts of vertical gardening is easy strawberry harvesting!
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Check for ripe berries daily once plants start flowering. Harvest every 2-3 days during peak season.
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Gently twist off ripe fruits to avoid damaging plants. Leave the green caps on for longest shelf life.
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Pick early in the day when berries are cool and juice is most concentrated. Ripe strawberries don’t store long.
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Display a catching frame or cloth under plants to collect fallen berries. Enjoy them ASAP before they spoil.
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Keep plants picked clean of ripe fruit to prolong the harvest season into fall.
Growing strawberries vertically makes fresh berry snacking a literal pick!
Troubleshooting Common Vertical Growing Issues
While vertical gardening works wonderfully for strawberries, you may encounter some potential problems:
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Sluggish growth – Always plant high quality runners. Poor genetics lead to weak vines.
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Sparse flowers – Too much nitrogen fertilizer inhibits fruiting. Back off high nitrogen mixes.
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Small berries – Overcrowding causes smaller fruits. Thin vines and runners to 8-10 inches apart.
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Tip dieback – Usually a sign of overwatering. Allow soil to dry somewhat before soaking again.
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Spider mites – These pests thrive in hot, dry conditions. Mist plants daily to deter infestations.
With preventative care and prompt treatment, your vertically grown strawberries will flourish!
Enjoying the Harvest from Your Vertical Strawberry Patch
There’s nothing quite like biting into a sun-warmed, just-picked strawberry straight from your own vertical garden! I hope these tips have inspired you to try growing strawberries in new directions.
With a bit of creativity and the right care, fences, trellises, and other vertical spaces can become surprisingly bountiful berry patches. Homegrown flavor is only a ladder away.
I’d love to hear if you try training strawberries or other fruits up instead of out! Share your own vertical gardening stories and tips in the comments.
Why Plant Strawberries In A Gutter?
Strawberries can be a little challenging to maintain. It can be difficult to manage all of their little runners if you don’t have a defined space. If you have a large space for growing strawberries you’ll want to maintain organization of the strawberry plants. If all the little runners start to grow everywhere and make berries, it might be hard to pick the strawberries without knocking them over or stepping on them.
Growing strawberries in a defined and organized area might be your best bet.
This is one of the main reasons we’re using gutters this year. Using gutters to plant strawberry plants will keep the strawberry plants in an organized row. And we’re also hanging the gutter from a fence rail about 4 feet from the ground. We’ve had a lot of rabbits in the garden this year, so hopefully these strawberries will be out of their reach!
In addition to keeping your strawberry plants organized, using a gutter will help cut down on weeds. When good soil is used to fill raised beds, weeds are less likely to grow and are easier to pull. The gutter will work the same way.
Materials Needed For Planting Strawberries In A Gutter
- Gutter
- 2 gutter end caps
- Silicone caulk
- Caulk gun
- Cordless Drill
- 3/4 in drill bit
- Hidden gutter hangers
- with wire and pliers (this might not be needed if the gutter is short).
- Soil
- Strawberry plants
How to grow Strawberries in Gutters
FAQ
How to grow strawberries up a fence?
Is it better to grow strawberries vertically or horizontally?
What month is best to plant strawberries?
Will strawberries climb a trellis?
How do you plant strawberries in gutters?
Fill each gutter about 2/3 full with lightweight potting soil. Plant the strawberry plants, spaced evenly, about every 6″. Mount the brackets onto the desired wall. These must be sturdy brackets that are well anchored. When soaked, the gutters can get quite heavy.
How do you plant a strawberry plant in a container?
When planting, use a high-quality potting mix suitable for container gardening. Plant strawberry seedlings at intervals of 6 to 8 inches to give them ample space to grow. This spacing is crucial for air circulation and sunlight penetration, both vital for healthy plant development.
How do I protect my strawberry plants from rain?
The soil can harbor pathogenic fungi and other creepy-crawlies that can infect or infest your strawberry planting. So, keeping strawberries off the dirt is important. Additionally, rain can splash muddy soil up onto strawberries and contaminate them that way. Using gutter systems minimizes this risk. 2. Make strawberry picking easier
How deep do Strawberry roots grow?
Even in poor or heavy soils, they will usually grow downward 6 inches. Many types of gutters are less than 6 inches deep and less than 6 inches wide. While the majority of strawberry roots grow in the top 3-4 inches of soil, the rest of the roots contribute significantly to both plant growth and strawberry production.