Overwintering strawberry jars?

Megan 8/7/2010, 11:38 am

My little experiment in growing "wild"/alpine yellow strawberries has worked out well. The plants are much bigger than I ever dreamed of this spring when I saw those microscopic little leaves. They are planted in a strawberry jar -- a big terra cotta clay pot with pockets in the sides for the plants.

Have you ever used a jar like this? If you get snow in winter, what did you do? Leave it outside, did you bring it inside? I am only familiar with the regular strawberries planted in the ground, which we pretty much ignored and they did fine, but I am worried now about the pots. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

extremesoccermom 8/7/2010, 5:55 pm

I leave mine outside next to the house in the front yard. The house faces east and most storms come from the west so many of my plants which are supposed to be annuals actually do very well in the shelter of my home from breezes and snow fall.

boffer 8/7/2010, 6:03 pm

Megan wrote:...I am worried now about the pots...

I would be more worried about the pots themselves than the berries. I don't have much luck with terra cotta pots surviving the freeze/thaw cyce.

Megan 8/7/2010, 7:30 pm

Yes, I'm worried about the pot as well. After the wacky winter of last year... I just don't know. They are usually pretty mild here. I was thinking of trying to wrap it up or something. I don't have a good sunny spot indoors for it.

Odd Duck 8/7/2010, 7:59 pm

I'm zone 7b and my strawberries overwinter just fine, and are nearly evergreen, in my pots and start regrowing way before I expected in the spring (Nebraska-born girl that I am). I can't imagine that yours would be too different. If the soil in the pot is moist and not soggy, it shouldn't expand and freeze like a block of ice. It might freeze moisture that's inside the walls of pot, if there's enough there, and make the walls want to flake some after a year or so.

I'd tuck it up next to the house in the sunniest spot possible and keep it somewhat moist. Regular strawberries are pretty hardy (they used to overwinter for us in zone 5 in Nebraska) and alpine strawberries should be even more cold tolerant. These are just a few thoughts without looking up anything, so do some searching to confirm.

Megan 8/7/2010, 9:00 pm

Thanks very much. I think I will probably leave it right where it is... up against the foundation would be the most sheltered spot for snow, but it might get more rain there.

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Overwintering strawberry jars?

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