The Greenstalk vertical planter is an excellent answer for planting strawberries on a small footprint. When you have 2 sq ft. of area to spare, you possibly can develop tons of scrumptious berries in your Greenstalk. It’s virtually too simple! With options to make it simple to maneuver, water, and have a tendency to, it doesn’t get a lot simpler.

Chances are you’ll use your planter to develop a stupendous cold-weather vegetable backyard when winter rolls round. On this case, you’ll must take away your strawberry roots. If not, you’ll wish to take some steps to overwinter your strawberry crops for subsequent season. Strawberries are hardy perennials in Zones 4-9, so they may overwinter simply. It’s not a nasty thought to take some protecting precautions, although.

Winterizing your Greenstalk shouldn’t be sophisticated or labor-intensive. You are able to do it as you’ll with another potted plant, however on a bigger scale. Listed below are some simple suggestions that will help you seamlessly transition your planter from fall to spring.

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Reduce Again Your Crops and Prime With Straw

Getting ready your crops for the season forward is essential earlier than you cope with your planter. Earlier than anything, decide whether or not it’s essential skinny out your strawberries. They multiply over time, and also you don’t need them crowding one another. Thinning them will imply extra and higher-quality fruit within the coming spring season.

Fall is the fitting time to do that process. Wait till after harvesting, in fact. It’s greatest to do it earlier than your first frost, ideally. First, in the reduction of the tops of the crops to about two to a few inches tall. This enables loads of room for brand spanking new wholesome development within the spring. That previous foliage will die again after a frost, anyway.

After you’ve trimmed away all the surplus foliage, gently loosen the grime and take away the crowns. Ideally, you wish to take away the oldest crowns. These are the biggest and infrequently have brown foliage. Re-plant a brand new crown in every of your planter’s pockets. If it’s essential refresh the soil you are able to do so now, or prime costume with some compost.

When you’ve tucked your crops safely away, again of their pockets, cowl them with a thick layer of straw for insulation. This helps retain moisture within the soil and prevents ailments and bug harm.

Transfer Nearer to Shelter

Chances are you’ll wish to relocate your Greenstalk to guard it relying on its current location. Many crops want a freeze-and-thaw cycle to germinate, however strawberries don’t. Which means they don’t technically have to remain outdoor for the winter. However that doesn’t imply you completely should carry it inside.

Shifting your greenstalk nearer to the home or one other construction is an efficient approach to defend it. This doesn’t make a lot distinction by way of the soil freezing, but it surely does defend it from chilly winds. Freezing winds are damaging to new foliage, so in case your strawberries sprout earlier than that final spring frost date, you don’t need them within the path of freezing winds.

A plant mover base is a good suggestion, because it lets you transfer your total planter with out taking it aside. A full greenstalk is heavy! A base that has wheels connected will make this a clean transition.

Use a Frost Safety Cowl

In case you dwell in a chilly local weather the place the final frost of spring generally comes late, a frost safety cowl is a good funding. Whereas this received’t stop your soil from freezing, it should supply new foliage some safety within the spring.

Wait till simply earlier than the freeze arrives to make use of a frost safety cowl as a way to proceed to water till that point. Then, simply slip the quilt over your complete Greenstalk and zip it up. In case your strawberries peek out early, they received’t die by a late frost or freezing winds.

Proceed Watering Till a Laborious Freeze

It’s essential to preserve watering your strawberries proper up till the soil freezes. In hotter climates, this will not ever occur, during which case, regardless that your crops will fall dormant, the roots will nonetheless want moisture.

Watch out to keep away from overwatering. Overwatering is a main explanation for demise for a lot of crops, particularly over the winter. Although they do want some moisture, the roots received’t soak up a lot within the winter. This, paired with the slower evaporation due to a scarcity of warmth and daylight, can depart your roots waterlogged.

Waterlogged soil is a quick observe to root rot and crown rot. You wish to keep away from this, so simply moisten the soil, and don’t do it usually. Simply sufficient that it by no means utterly dries out.

In case you’re leaving your planter outdoor for the winter, the roots will want some safety when the soil freezes. Dry roots are brittle and extra susceptible to freezing temperatures. Moisture earlier than freezing will assist preserve these root insulated.

In case you intend to carry your planter inside, which we are going to get to, you’ll wish to keep this moisture all through the winter. In case you’re leaving it outdoor for the length, solely water till the soil freezes. If it thaws mid-winter, be certain they soil is moist once more earlier than it freezes again up.

Transfer It Indoors

Strawberries will solely develop as annuals in Zones 2 and three. Nonetheless, you possibly can preserve them alive for the winter should you give them further safety from the chilly. It’s a good suggestion to do that in Zone 4, additionally, simply in case you have got an additional chilly snap.

Even in hotter climates, there isn’t a hurt in relocating your planter if in case you have a great place for it. Very best spots for winter storage embrace a storage, or enclosed shed. An area that stays barely hotter than the outside is greatest.

When you have a greenhouse, you possibly can pop it in there additionally. This may imply earlier development and earlier fruit!