Preparing the pots
By MysD
@mysdianait (66009)
Italy
March 12, 2017 9:08am CST
It's a beautful day here today ans just right to be out on the balcony getting ready for spring which is just around the corner.
A friend brought me some strawberry plants last week and I have been watering them in the hope that today I could go out and clean up some pots and plant them and that is what I have been doing.
I have them hanging on the railings of my balcony, three pots with three plants in each of them. Hopefully the weather will stay warm and they will grow well and for Easter I will have the first crop - with ice cream! 
The strawberries in the picture are those from two years ago. That year I had them from May through to October and it was such a thrill to go and pick them and have them on the dinner table within a few minutes.
Do you grow your own too?
In pots or in the ground?
The strawberries in the picture are those from two years ago. That year I had them from May through to October and it was such a thrill to go and pick them and have them on the dinner table within a few minutes.
Do you grow your own too?
In pots or in the ground?18 people like this
20 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
They are really simple and only requite water and sun to produce lots of fruits.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@rebelann Ah you have a point. Maybe it would be too hot for them. What fruit grows well there?
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112878)
• El Paso, Texas
12 Mar 17
Perhaps the sun is not as strong as here @mysdianait we are already in the 80s most days and by the end of this month we'll be in the 90s, it's very dry here as well with only 10-17% humidity if that.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223010)
• Chile
12 Mar 17
I have never grown strawberries although I love to eat them. This year I will prepare the soil better that in these last two years. But for me, veggies are a must.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
Most people here but flowers on their balconies and the majority have geraniums - but they make a mess when the petals fall onto the balconies of those living below. Strawberries solve that problem perfectly. A lot of green leaves, some colourful fruits and nothiong dropping below.
I usually do tomatoes in pots but I'm not sure this year whether I will do them or not. I also have the usual herbs: mint, rosemary, chives and sage all doing well.
My balcony is small and if I do too much I end up with nowhere for the chiar! 
2 people like this
@marguicha (223010)
• Chile
12 Mar 17
@mysdianait I have geraniums in pots at a wall in my terrace. But of course the terrace has to be swept every few days, and not only because of the petals.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@marguicha If I had any they would drop either on the flat under me or onto public property and as I am not partciularly fond of them, I have never had them since I moved here. There are certainly some gorgeous displays of them elsewhere though in summer!
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
13 Mar 17
Weather here is not conducive to grow strawberries in pots, therefore we buy strawberries from market. Picture you have posted is beautiful.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
13 Mar 17
@mysdianait Yes, the picture reveals that you have a green garden. It is good that your efforts bring fruitful rewards and you love this reward.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Mar 17
@dpk262006 I love to see the leaves moving in the breeze in summer. It makes it seem cooler though it isn't at all really.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Mar 17
I hope that picture shows well enough the green of the grass in the park below my appartment. Those pots are hanging on the railing of the balcony and they take up so little space but are so rewarding with little effort needed to make them produce many fruits.
Sad that you can't grow your own but that is one chore less for you 
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
12 Mar 17
I don't grow at home but my parents have a big garden and some fields at my hometown. They grow everything seasonal, like potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, zucchinis etc. They are retired and enjoy gardening and growing fresh vegetables.
I have no idea if they have strawberries. But when they visit me, they always bring fresh goodies with them! 
I hope this year's strawberries are successful for you!
I hope this year's strawberries are successful for you!1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
Nothing better than fresh home-grown vegetables indeed! Thank you. When they are ready to pick I will post a pic
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@besweet This year I have three long pots with three plants in each one. Last year I had a couple more but there were even too many. Yes each plant will produce many, one after the other, and fortunately the birds don't get them as they proabbly don't see them up high on the balcony.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
12 Mar 17
@mysdianait How many pots of strawberries do you plant to get you through the season? It looks like each plant can produce a few fresh strawberries!
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
I don't like buying them unless they are Italian and there have been some in my local supermarket from south Italy for three weeks now.
Fortunately my balcony faces south and has the sun all day so for Easter there will be the first ones (and I'll post a pic too 
)
)1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@LadyDuck Yes that is true that Italy does not put in enough effort but my reasons for buying Itallian products are different. Years ago I read an article which explained that our bodies need to follow the seasons as far as fruit and vegetables are concerned. We need 'a rest' from some products and even though they are available all year round it is not good to eat them for twelve months of the year. Therefore I only buy them when they are 'in season'.The only exceptions are bananas and pineapple.
I see many things on sale now from Egypt (beans), Mexico (blackberries) and many products from Marocco and even though I am tempted I prefer to wait until national products appear.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471506)
• Switzerland
12 Mar 17
@mysdianait I have found the Spanish strawberries better than the Italian ones. Spain has very good products, it shows that they make an effort for the export, I cannot say the same for Italy.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
13 Mar 17
I have a few flowering plants in the house and mostly outdoor, in the ground flowers and bushes. I've never done well starting them in the house to move outside before since by this time of the year I'm pretty busy getting ready to begin washing windows for customers again.
This year would be the first time I'm seriously considering starting some seeds in pots. Not necessarily any fruits of veges, but we'll see. First the $ needs to be there and then the time. I'm not working one job until almost June and the same with the windows although I need to go along for the ride and do the calling and setting up too.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Mar 17
If you put them in pots they will need your time for watering them so don't do too many if they will then become a chore for you.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
14 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman Oh yes, space is my problem too. The balcony is small and a couple of years ago I did too many and there was no room left for my chair!
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
@mysdianait It's also amatter of finding the extra space.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
21 Mar 17
That is nice. The strawberries look very bright and sweet.
I sure hope that I have a big balcony to plant something.
Over here, the newer flats are built to minimize the direct impact of sunlight.
That is very bad for gardening, since no direct sun means the plants do not grow well.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
21 Mar 17
Oh yes, without the sun nothing will grow well and the fruits, if there are any, would be small and not as sweet as those grown in full sun.
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@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@sjvg1976 But the ice-cream would melt and as Italian ice-cream is the nest, I suggets you come here to eat them! I'll let you know when they are ready to eat
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@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
You will certainly get some pics of them as I haven't got your email to send you some there and I don't think they would go through in a PM 
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41281)
• Delhi, India
12 Mar 17
@mysdianait don't worry I will send you my postal adress too so that you may courier it to my place.
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@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
18 Mar 17
My pots are on the balcony which is covered by the balcony of the flat above and when it rains it stays dry so, regardless of the weather, I have to water most of the pots daily. Sometimes even twice a day in summer.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
12 Mar 17
We planted 50 strawberry plants our first year in TN - what a mess, too much work involved in keeping the weeds down - we plowed them over and buy strawberries from then on. Maybe some in a pot like you are doing would work. We have a small raised bed - 8 x 16 which produces enough for us and we give some away.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
Many people here put that black plastic down and then make holes in it to plant the straweberries and that keeps the weeds away. In pots there is not that problem and the bugs have never got at them either. This is the fourth year that I have done them and they take no looking after except watering
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@AbbyGreenhill Brilliant idea! Nothing ventured, nothing gained indeed!
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
12 Mar 17
@mysdianait I might try it - no harm right?!
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
None at all. Bugs probably don't realise that stuff grows on balconies too and they only go to gardens
3 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
@JudyEv Well we know that there is one but he fixes things
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar 17
@mysdianait That's great. Let's hope there are no bugs on myLot.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
13 Mar 17
i cannot grow a plant, a flower, a vegetable. it seems my hands are 'hot' to tend to plants.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Mar 17
Oh dear 
You have nmo luck with èplants that are already well established? What happens to them?
You have nmo luck with èplants that are already well established? What happens to them?1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
18 Mar 17
@mysdianait they die. but when i was in my primary grades, i was able to grow okra or ladyfingers because it does not need constant watering and shading.
1 person likes this
@spaceseed (2843)
• India
13 Mar 17
so beautiful......................like to have some on my window as well. few days ago my wife saw one such plant in the market and she wanted to put that in window but i declined. I thought they will not give fruits, but seeing you pic i think i need to think again.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Mar 17
You can surprise her and go and buy some without telling her first
All that they require is a sunny position and watering regularly. I'm sure she will know how to use them and make you some delicious dishes with the fruits that they will produce
All that they require is a sunny position and watering regularly. I'm sure she will know how to use them and make you some delicious dishes with the fruits that they will produce 1 person likes this
@samrrazvi (38)
•
14 Mar 17
@mysdianiat omg you hav done some serious mind blowing work there.
after seeing this thing iam also getting interested but i dont know if i can grow in India especially with 5- 6 year old kids around who pluck leaves,flowers etc
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
14 Mar 17
If you have a sunny place then you could try with just a few plants too. They would need watering daily and that is where you are lucky because your children could help. All kids love messing around with water so get them some small watering cans (one each) and that could be their task every day!
You could even use some empty plastic bottles without having the expense of buying cans!
You could even use some empty plastic bottles without having the expense of buying cans!
@flpoolbum (2978)
• United States
13 Mar 17
I would like to try growing some blueberries, raspberries and strawberries this year. I can't put them in the front or back yard because my neigbor's dog will urinate on them.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Mar 17
I have never grown any fruit before but strawberries are delicious! =)
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
They are my favorite fruit! They are simple to grow in pots too and only require watering
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
13 Mar 17
We grow food mainly in pots so we can move these as needed. Soon it will be warm enough long enough for us to move things outside that have been started indoors.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Mar 17
So many people think that it is not possible to grow fruit and vegetable in posts but, as you know, it is easy and probably creates less problems than growing them directly in the ground. Good luck with yours too!
@diosabella (4789)
•
14 Mar 17
I think its much better to plant it in the pot. The the fruits wont rest on the soil. It will be cleaner. I'm hoping to get a pot of strawberry plant soon too.
@miesse2 (226)
• Canada
12 Mar 17
It's is too cold here to even consider gardening right now but I would like to grow some potted strawberries. I also intend to start an in ground garden this year with several fruits and veggies but nothing to overwhelm myself! I Can't wait to try my hand at some fresh veggies!
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
12 Mar 17
Nothing beats fresh! I only have a small balcony though so everything must be in pots and as the space is limited, so are my choices. Good luck with yours and keep us updated about your gardening too 
