Growing strawberries on your wall

A brief overview of a very simple, inexpensive method for growing strawberries on the outside of wall your home.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Strawberries
• self sufficency
• green
• growing
• garden
• gardening
• fresh food
• organic
• Eco
• Food
• sustainable
• berries
• fruit
• fresh

[liyinliang]

Great idea! just a question, how often do you have to water? and is the moisture even through out? or is the top dryer than the bottom? and how is the drainage? I am really interested in trying this one out. :)

[SocietyofEnoch]

@liyinliang Since the ground cloth I used is air permeable it drains almost too well, I cannot over water in this kind of set up. I water according to the need for water, which I judge by visually inspecting the soil on top and in one of the lowest holes. I keep it dark and moist to the touch, but not soaked. In hot, dry weather I have to water it daily, in cooler weather less often, in the winter maybe once a week. Since it's right outside my door I see it often, so it's easy to check on.

[SocietyofEnoch]

@MangShawn I order mine from one green world. They deliver, sort of, are local and offer a wonderful service and good selection.

The variety is Seascape, which I selected after reading a NASA study about it. NASA selected it for use in space because it produces about the same weight of fruit over a wide range of light intensities. So in full sun it produces a few large berries and in lower light levels it produces lots of smaller berries. And it's ever-bearing.

[SocietyofEnoch]

@MangShawn I think a double layer of heavy black trash bag, cut to fit, would work well, as long as it doesn't get too much sunlight, as black plastic can get hot in the sun and could cook your plants. Mine is mounted in a partially shaded part of my house, and only gets direct morning sun, and by noon on hotter days I have to water it to cool it down. I would cut a sheet out of the trash bag and roll it into a tube to put into the form, so that you have a good overlap, and possibly 2 layers

[MangShawn]

@SocietyofEnoch Where did you get your strawberry plants from and what variety are they?

Very good idea and keep up the good work.

[MangShawn]

@SocietyofEnoch What about trying a couple thick black plastic trash bags for support. I found these items online for only $1.99 and if i order 10 of them including shipping its only $41.40. They dont have an IKEA here in Las Vegas Locally and obviously im thinking of planting other items around my house in these to put up outside.

[Thecityofenoch]

I am now thinking that I might plant a perennial flowering herb, once that blooms all season, as I have found that my berries have suffered from seasonal shifts in the local bee population. When some nearby honeysuckle is in bloom I have lots of large berries and when the honey suckle isn't drawing the bees, I get few, smaller fruit. There's just not enough berry flowers going at any one time to keep bees coming back. It is hanging in a somewhat protected covered porch area.

[SocietyofEnoch]

I tried basil in the top, but I don't eat enough basil to justify keeping it, though it did well enough. I would like to put some kind of perennial food plant or herb in the top, but something that will remain small and not overgrow the container. Probably not a realistic hope.

[PokemonBreeder101]

@SocietyofEnoch i havent been gardening long enough to know the best answer for this, but im thinking maybe some kind of small pepper would fit your needs.

[SocietyofEnoch]

BTW, it is late November, '11 and I still have berries forming. I had planted a basil plant in the top, but I don't eat enough basil often enough to keep it there, so I just cut it down. I am not sure what I will plant in the top for the next season. Anyone have suggestions? I am looking for something that grows fairly slowly, produces something edible all summer and into the fall , and isn't going to outgrow the planter.

[SocietyofEnoch]

I water it as needed. The drainage is excellent, perhaps too good, so it requires frequent, fairly heavy watering. It tends to be fairly uniform throughout,as soil wicks moisture to create a relatively uniform consistency. If I were starting this again today I think I would line it with a material that is not as permeable as the felt I used. Perhaps a 90+% shade cloth or the material of woven plastic strips used for large bags of rice.