There are numerous advantages to using an AeroGarden. What could supplement your meals better than locally farmed vegetables and fruits?
Nonetheless, people have shown a clear preference for vegetables, which are also more widely available. If you like them and want to use them primarily in salads, this may be fine, but it could be if you want sweet fruits.
Many of you who have an AeroGarden and a family will no doubt also agree that your kids would rather have fruit-based desserts than vegetables.
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Strawberries are a good option to grow for fruit year-round without venturing outside.
Getting started with growing strawberries in Aerogarden
- Get and prepare a strawberry root ball
A golf ball’s worth of space houses the strawberry root. If any excess roots grow out from the base of the stem, cut them off. Not to worry, this won’t kill the plant! If anything, it can help the roots grow back even stronger.
The available room in your grow pods is somewhat limited. As a result, you need to trim the root ball, or the plant might not fit properly. The best way to purchase strawberry plants is in a bare-root bundle from a gardening store.
Strawberries grown outside can have their roots cut off and used to start a new plant in an aerogarden. You can proceed to the next stage as soon as you trim the root ball.
- Put the root ball into the seed pod
The next step is to ensure a snug connection between the seed pod and the root.
What you need is a:
- Peat moss
- Rockwool
- Growing sponge
These substances aid in the root’s maturation. Take it out and give it another cut if it’s too big! No harm will come to the plant from your actions. Also, if you cut the root off, the aerogarden chamber won’t get filled up with dirt and debris.
- Set up the grow basket
You can now install the grow basket. Inspect the basket for any debris and remove any you come across. The next step is to firmly press down on the planter until there’s a clicking sound. As soon as you hear that, you know it’s safe.
In general, this is a simple process that entails double-checking everything. There are a variety of aerogarden types; thus, it’s important to adjust the grow basket accordingly.
- Filling the water tank
Water is important for the development of your strawberry patch. You must install a water storage tank in the aerogarden. With this setup, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to water your plants. Most models will signal when it’s time to add water to the tank.
- Adding a quality liquid fertilizer
Quality liquid fertilizer can also be added to the water supply. Like water, the plant’s roots will absorb the liquid. If you want to harvest tasty strawberries, you’ll need to provide your plants with nutrients.
Fertilizer tablets are ideal as a substitute for liquid fertilizer. It’s best to start by mixing the fertilizer pill with a glass of water before adding it to the tank. Leave yourself ample room to bring it all in.
- Pollinating the flowers
Unfortunately for the strawberries, pollination by bees is impossible. This is because they are being grown indoors. A lack of fruit from the blossoms is a sure sign that this is not the case. Thankfully, strawberry blossoms are easy to self-pollinate.
Just brush a cotton swab over the flower and then the other flowers to spread the pollen. Use a clean makeup brush. For even cross-pollination, you should do this every few days after the flowers blossom.
Take your time and do it right. Strawberries with irregular shapes are often the result of poor pollination.
- Care for the strawberry plant
Finally, give your strawberry plant the standard TLC it deserves. The leaves may start to turn yellow or brown. You can safely remove these without endangering the plant’s blossoms or stem.
Strawberries grown in an aerogarden require minimal attention and upkeep. The tank needs refilling when it gets low, but other than that, it’s quite hands-off! Also, when the water runs out, you can replenish the fertilizer.
Can you grow strawberry seeds in AeroGarden?
If you have the patience and time, you can grow strawberries from seed.
Also, while growing from seeds, you never know what you’ll end up with, whereas a runner is a genetically identical offspring of the parent plant.
You can buy the strawberry crowns separately or with the aerogarden strawberry kit, which includes the strawberry crowns, coco coir chips, and grow bowl.
How long does it take for strawberries to grow in AeroGarden?
After planting the strawberry crowns, reset the nutrient timer and pour the liquid plant food into the AeroGarden bowl.
In seven to ten days, your strawberry plants should have fresh growth. When the nutrient timer goes off in two weeks, apply the nutrients as directed and then reset the nutrient timer.
How to plant strawberry roots in AeroGarden
Strawberry grow bulbs or crowns you purchase from a nursery are typically the size of a golf ball.
Given the confines of your grow pod, you’ll want to prune away a lot of the root hairs from the main root ball at the stem’s base. This may seem like a terrible injustice to a hibernating plant, but it promotes healthy root growth. When applied, the plant is stimulated into allocating resources toward expansion.
It is essential to check that the root crown can be accommodated in the Rockwool or grow sponge without too much difficulty. This will save you some time that you would have otherwise spent fumbling with the plant and knocking root debris into the reservoir of the grow tank.
Eventually, your pump will fail if you continue exposing it to tank debris. If the root crown is too big or too small, remove it and try again. You can remove additional growing material or a sponge if you believe the roots have been harmed enough.
Do strawberries grow better in soil or aerogarden?
Many advantages emerge when aerogarden strawberries are compared to their soil-grown counterparts. Without soil, hydroponic strawberry cultivation is impossible.
- Cost
There is no denying that the initial investment in an aerogarden is much higher than if you were to grow in soil, but the year-round harvests are well worth it. Commercial farmers can make more money because of the high quality of the plants.
- Planting
When planted in an aerogarden, strawberries take up much less space than in traditional ground-level plots. They are much simpler to care for as well. Such a system has the added benefit of allowing for a higher plant density.
- Pests
As an aerogarden doesn’t use soil, there is no place for pests to live. Aerogarden strawberries are also healthier because they don’t have to be treated with pesticides. When planted in the ground, strawberries face the same challenge of fighting off weeds.
- Yield
An aerogarden typically comes out on top when comparing harvests. Compared to soil systems, where plants are vulnerable to weather, pesticides, and other external influences, aerogardens result in lower losses.
- Use of water
Strawberries grown in an aerogarden require far less water than those planted in soil. Drainage water from an aerogarden is collected and recycled for use.
Strawberries are typically irrigated from above in the traditional soil-growing method. There have been reports of farmers cutting their water consumption by as much as 85 percent by switching to aerogardens.
Start your indoor strawberry garden
Most gardeners will find growing strawberries to be a fruitful endeavor. Compared to typical crops, these delicious berries can’t be topped.
You should always begin with root crowns in your aerogarden if you intend to grow these plants indoors.
The thought of waiting years for your seed pods to produce fruit from a few seeds plucked from a store-bought strawberry is alluring. Grow strawberries inside with an aerogarden system and harvest them whenever you like.
