For those who live in an apartment or a flat, a window box or even hanging garden is a great way to bring the garden to your windowsill.
Strawberries are incredibly easy to grow and can be grown almost anywhere. The best time to sow strawberry seeds is early autumn. Plants should be sowed between the end of June and September.
What you need:
- A window box or plant pots
- Potting compost
- Gravel or pebbles
- Strawberry seeds or strawberry plants
How To Make a Strawberry Window Garden:
- Preparing the window box or plant pot
Using the biggest window box or plant pot you can for your window, add a layer of gravel or pebbles to the bottom, around 3cm deep. This helps with drainage. Make sure that the box is fully secured to the windowsill.
- Adding the compost
Fill your box or pots with compost so that it sits around 4cm below the top for seeds and 5cm for plants. Pack the compost and press it down lightly. The compost should be slightly moist but not wet.
- Planting your strawberry seeds
Spread the seeds out evenly along the edges of your box or pot. Place the plants around 1.5cm away from the edge of the box or pots. Ideally, strawberry plants are placed 35-40cm apart in a plant box or one per pot.
- Add more compost
Top up the compost so it’s roughly 3cm from the top of the box or pot. Firm up the soil around each plant as you spread it out.
- Watering the seeds or plants
Water new plants and seeds frequently. Water from the bottom to prevent rotting the crown and the fruit.
Source: Sainsbury’s Bank – Money Matters (http://sainsburysbank.co.uk/money-matters/)
