Growing Strawberries in troughs?

[Chris Graham]

I was thinking of growing some strawberries next year in troughs to maximise the amount of air being able to circulate around them.

Does anyone grow them like this?

Just wondered what size I would need.  Would really like to hang them from my fence.

[Chris Graham]

[tim]

This is what I did, Chris.

Made legged boxes, with chicken wire bases, to hold grow bags. Rather like the commercial treatment.

[cacran]

Hi that looks great Tim. I get loads of strawberrys eaten by what I can only assume are slugs, or could be mice. Can't be birds as I netted them this year. I have a lot going mouldy when they lay on the floor. I was talked out of using straw. Perhaps I should get mine off the ground too.

[Peapods]

Brilliant idea Tim

Im stealing that for next year, and growing them on my shed  ;D

[Chris Graham]

This is what I did, Chris.

Made legged boxes, with chicken wire bases, to hold grow bags. Rather like the commercial treatment.

I like that idea, thanks for the tip Tim

[tim]

Not in use presently.

[1066]

Hi
I've grown strawberries reasonably successfully in a standard window box - a long thin one for a number of years. every now and then (when I remember) I renew the plants, and as soon as the fruit start appearing I use straw / hay which does seem to keep the worst of the slug and pest damage at bay.

[star]

Hi and welcome 1066 :D I grew mine in window boxes and large pots as well. Fantastic crop!! I also mulch with straw and I stick the runners into the compost until rooted, pot them up and pass them on to someone.

I do like your idea though Tim ;)

[realfood]

I grow most of my strawberries in large fish boxes elevated above ground. For pictures and details see http://www.growyourown.info/page80.html

[1066]

thanks for the welcome!
Also like the idea of fish boxes and generally raising the strawberries off the ground seems sensible - it also means you get to utilise more space  :)

[manicscousers]

hiya, 1066, welcome to the site  ;D
we've got nowhere to raise boxes but I can see the advantages, might not get the slug damage,  :)

[sawfish]

I grow mine in troughs and a big tin bath with holes in the bottom, also those cheap plastic buckets are good. I thoroughly recommend it and if you get a trailing variety its even better.

[realfood]

Raising the boxes off the ground on steel legs as I do, means that slugs, snails, mice, rats are defeated. A bit of netting takes care of the birds.

[cacran]

I have some frame work things that I got from a skip. They would raise my strawberries off the ground by about a foot. I was going to grow them in grow bags supported by this framework. If I put a copper strip around each leg to deter slugs and snails, do you thing it would work okay. I am convinced that most of my damage comes from this source as I netted them this year and still lost lots. I guess it could have been mice or something, though.

[realfood]

Mice and voles take a lot of strawberries if grown at ground level.

[trinity]

mine are in troughs  on top of shelf brackets attached to the posts on my fence and always seem to get a good crop  ;D