Here's an unusual idea for an indoor plant--strawberries! Strawberry plants are compact, decorative and offer tasty fruit full of vitamin A, potassium, folate and fiber. And believe it or not, they are perfect for container growing. Just remember to provide plenty of water and bright sunlight. Place your plants very near a south-facing sunny window or in an enclosed sun porch. Strawberries like deep soil, so use a fairly large container with a very good potting mix, and feed every 10 days with a fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Red alpine strawberries are everbearing and produce no runners, which makes them neat and tidy for indoor growing; white alpines are also everbearing but produce runners that may be difficult to contain indoors. Plants bloom with white flowers, then produce fruit within a couple of months and will continue this cycle for about three years. Though berries are small, they are packed with flavor and freeze well.
Tips for Freezing Strawberries:
- Remove stems and any debris from the berries. Cut large berries in half and arrange them in a single layer on baking trays. Do not wash berries before freezing them; the drier the berries are when frozen, the better their color, taste and texture later.
- Place the trays in the freezer for a few hours. When the fruit is hard, pour it into freezer bags or containers and label them.
- To use, pour the frozen berries into a colander and rinse under cold running water. Berries are best if used within six months (after that, color and flavor will deteriorate, and skins and seeds will toughen).
Resources Red Alpine and Sequoia strawberry plants
Edible Landscaping
361 Spirit Ridge Ln.
Afton, VA 22920
Phone: 804-361-9134
Toll Free Phone: 800-524-4156
Fax: 804-361-1916
Email:
el@cstone.net
URL:
www.ediblelandscaping.com
White Alpine strawberry plants
Papa Geno's Herb Garden
11125 S. 14th
Roca, NE
Phone: 402-423-5051
Email:
papageno@navix.net
URL:
www.papagenos.com
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