As a gardening enthusiast, I’m always looking for new and innovative ways to grow fresh fruits and veggies right at home. And let me tell you, strawberries are one of my all-time favorites! There’s nothing quite like popping a ripe, red strawberry straight from the plant into your mouth. Simply delicious.
So when I discovered that you can actually grow strawberries hydroponically in an AeroGarden, I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself and enjoy homegrown strawberries year-round.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to grow happy, healthy strawberry plants in your AeroGarden and harvest buckets of juicy, sweet berries. Let’s get growing!
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Growing strawberries in an AeroGarden is a bit different than using the pre-seeded herb pods they offer But with just a few supplies, you can absolutely make it work! Here’s what you’ll need
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An AeroGarden system – The Harvest, Bounty or Farm models work best for strawberries. The Sprout is too small.
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AeroGarden Grow Anything seed pod kits – These allow you to grow whatever you want in the AeroGarden, including strawberries!
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Strawberry crowns – These are the starter plants you’ll be growing. You can buy them from garden centers or online. Everbearing varieties work well.
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Seed starter sponges – Help anchor those strawberry roots in the grow baskets.
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Scissors – For cutting the starter sponges and harvesting berries.
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Soft paint brush – Helps pollinate the strawberry blossoms.
That’s it! Now let’s get planting.
Step-By-Step Planting Instructions
Planting strawberry crowns in your AeroGarden only takes about 10-15 minutes. Just follow these simple steps:
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Rinse off the strawberry crowns gently under room temperature water to remove any dirt or debris.
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Fill the AeroGarden reservoir to the “Fill to Here” line with fresh water. I like to use filtered water for the healthiest plants.
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Add the required amount of AeroGarden Liquid Nutrients to the water as directed on the bottle. This will feed your strawberry plants.
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Take a seed starter sponge and cut it in half crosswise with scissors. Take one half and cut into a doughnut shape.
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Gently poke the strawberry roots down into the center hole of the sponge doughnut. Place the crown right on top.
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Slide the seed starter sponge with roots through an AeroGarden Grow Basket. Push it down to the bottom.
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Repeat with all your starter crowns and Grow Baskets, placing them into the openings on the AeroGarden Grow Deck.
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Make sure the Grow Light is set to the lowest position about 6 inches from the tops of the crowns. You’ll raise it as the plants grow.
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Turn on the AeroGarden and your strawberry grow journey begins!
It’s that easy to get started growing fresh strawberries indoors. Now let’s look at how to care for your plants.
Caring For Your Strawberry Plants
Growing healthy, productive strawberry plants does take a bit of work. But follow these tips and you’ll get a bountiful harvest!
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Keep an eye on water levels – Strawberry plants need consistent moisture. Top off the reservoir when it gets low.
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Provide proper lighting – As plants grow, keep adjusting the lights to maintain the 6-inch distance from the tops of plants.
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Feed regularly – Use the AeroGarden nutrients as directed every two weeks to fuel plant growth.
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Maintain ideal temperature – Strawberries grow best with temperatures between 60°F and 80°F. Keep them away from cold and heat extremes.
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Prune carefully – Remove dead leaves or runners to focus energy on fruit growth.
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Pollinate flowers – Use a soft brush to gently transfer pollen from bloom to bloom.
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Harvest frequently – Pick ripe berries every 2-3 days to keep plants productive.
With good care, your AeroGarden strawberries will thrive indoors! It’s exciting to watch those small white blossoms turn into plump, ruby red berries.
Harvesting Your Homegrown Strawberries
In just 4-6 short weeks from planting crowns, you’ll be harvesting ripe, juicy strawberries! Follow these tips for getting the most from your plants:
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Wait until berries are fully red before picking. Green or white berries aren’t ripe yet.
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Use clean scissors to snip berries off rather than pulling and damaging plants.
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Pick berries every 2-3 days to encourage more fruit production.
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Rinse and gently pat dry fresh-picked berries and enjoy right away for best flavor.
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Everbearing varieties will produce a second flush of fruit 2-3 weeks after the first harvest.
With proper care, you can enjoy multiple weeks of sweet AeroGarden strawberries! Nothing beats that fresh-from-the-plant taste.
The great thing about growing strawberries hydroponically is you skip issues like pests, disease, and bad weather that plague outdoor gardens. You get gorgeous, delicious berries no matter the season!
Tips for Strawberry Growing Success
After multiple AeroGarden strawberry plantings, I’ve learned a few tricks that really help boost productivity:
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Choose everbearing varieties like Quinault or Seascape for multiple harvests.
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Use new seed starter sponges each time you plant for best results.
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Keep light levels high – strawberries love bright conditions.
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Maintain temperatures between 65-75°F for ideal fruiting.
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Gently pinch off any runners so plants focus energy on fruit.
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Pollinate flowers daily by hand for the first 2 weeks after blossoms appear.
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Add an air stone to the water reservoir for maximum oxygen to plant roots.
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Give plants a rest period of 1-2 weeks between harvests before a second fruiting cycle.
WHAT IF I DON’T PLANT ALL THE PODS AT ONCE?
If you are not using all of the pod openings, we suggest using Plant Spacers. For their part, Plant Spacers help both to diminish the “dripping noise” from empty pods in the AeroGarden, and to block light into the reservoir which would otherwise cause algae to grow. You can purchase Plant Spacers in the accessories section of our website or clicking the link at the bottom of the page.
Germination, Seed Sprouting and Plant Food
- Adjust your LED Light panel so that it is at the lowest level and close to the new seedlings – seeds need the heat from the light in order to germinate. Raise the lights as your plants grow.
- If you need to lower the lights, prune the other plants in your AeroGarden so that they dont get in the way of the new seedlings. Remember not to prune more than 1/3 of a plant at a time.
- Rinse and refill your water bowl before planting these replacement Seed Pods. Add fresh water and follow the instructions on the nutrient bottle to add the correct amount of Liquid Plant Food. This will reset the pH of your AeroGarden and ensure an ideal environment for seeds to germinate.
- Before you add the Liquid Plant Food to the water, shake the bottle well to distribute nutrients evenly and ensure you are adding all the nutrients your plants will need.
- Fill the water bowl to the Fill to Here line and keep it consistent for happy, healthy plants.
- Check the pump or aerator to make sure it is running – this keeps the water oxygenated and your plants happy.
AeroGarden Strawberry Grow Success: Tips and Tricks, Lessons Learned
FAQ
Can strawberries be grown in an AeroGarden?
Yes, you can grow strawberries in an AeroGarden. AeroGardens provide a suitable environment for growing strawberries, especially for day-neutral varieties or for getting a head start on the growing season.
Do strawberries grow well hydroponically?
How long does it take strawberries to grow hydroponically?
What is the trick to growing strawberries?