How to grow strawberries in PVC pipes? A guide

The strawberry is one of the most popular fruits in Europe, cultivated not only professionally but also amateurly in home gardens. The advantage in this case is the simplicity of cultivation and the variety of available strawberry types. Some of them allow strawberries to be grown in PVC pipes, which is a solution used especially by people who have a limited amount of space in their garden or on their plot.

What is strawberry cultivation in PVC pipes?

Growing strawberries in PVC pipes is a solution that works well for people who do not have a large cultivation area. It is important that you can grow both strawberry plants in vertical pipes and strawberry plants in horizontal pipes. In both cases, the cultivation differs not only in the structure of the setup but, most importantly, in the method of watering and in the varieties of strawberries planted in the pipes.

Which strawberry varieties are suitable for PVC pipes?

If you want to grow strawberries in a pipe, you need to choose the right varieties. The most important parameters in this case are frost resistance, high yield and the ability to adapt to the growing conditions inside the pipe.

If you choose strawberries planted in horizontal pipes, the following varieties are recommended:

• Dukat strawberry — an old variety resistant to frost and various diseases. It produces large and sweet fruits, and its advantage is also high yield.
• Malinówka strawberry — also resistant to frost, as well as drought and various diseases. The fruits are sweet, and their characteristic feature is a dark, cherry-like colour.
• Kent strawberry — a variety resistant to low temperatures. It produces large and sweet fruits, and fruiting may repeat again in autumn.

If you want to grow strawberries in a vertical PVC pipe, it is worth choosing varieties such as:

• Albion strawberry — regenerates well after winter and is resistant to diseases. Its fruits are large and tasty.
• Alba strawberry — resistant to low temperatures. This is an early, vigorous variety that produces large and sweet fruits.
• Królowa strawberry — withstands winter temperatures down to –15°C and has juicy, attractive fruits.
• Selva strawberry — a climbing and hanging strawberry variety that fruits repeatedly.

Strawberries in PVC pipes – how to make a pipe for strawberries?

Planting strawberries in a PVC pipe requires preparing suitable pipes in which the plants will be placed. So how do you prepare pipes for growing strawberries? Regardless of whether the strawberries will be planted horizontally or vertically, pipes with a diameter of 15 to 30 cm work best. In the first case, a strawberry container made from a pipe must have holes cut for the plants, spaced about 20 cm apart (on one side), and one additional hole on the opposite side (in the middle of the bottom), which will allow excess water to drain. Both ends of the pipe should be closed with caps.

Which pipe should you choose for vertical cultivation? In this case, holes also need to be made approximately every 20 cm, in which the strawberry plants will be placed. The holes are made on both sides, in an alternating pattern. Growing strawberries in vertical PVC pipes requires the use of a second, thinner pipe, which will be used for watering the plants. It should be slightly longer than the pipe used as the planter, which will make it easier to pour in water. Several holes must be made along its entire length and it should be wrapped in geotextile fabric to prevent excessive watering. A very important issue with vertical pipes is securing them properly against tipping over, as they are susceptible to strong winds.

How to plant strawberries in a PVC pipe?

Once the structure is prepared, you can start planting hanging strawberries in the pipe. It is important in this case to ensure that the growth point of the plants remains above the soil. Growing strawberries in PVC gutters requires the use of suitable soil, which should be light and rich in nutrients. A recommended solution is to use a mixture of soil, peat and sand in equal proportions. Another very important factor is choosing the right location, which should be warm and sunny. Strawberries planted in a PVC pipe can also be grown in greenhouses, which works particularly well for early varieties.

How to water strawberries in a pipe?

Growing strawberries planted in pipes is not demanding, and one of the most important aspects is providing the plants with proper irrigation. So how does watering strawberries in a pipe work? It is important to understand that the soil in the pipe dries out quickly, which means that it must be watered regularly. On the other hand, you must not allow it to become waterlogged, as this could cause the root system of the plants to rot. Therefore, regardless of whether climbing strawberries are grown in a pipe or plants are placed in horizontal pipes, it is recommended to use a drip irrigation system. Its advantage is the uniformity of watering, which ensures optimal conditions for plant growth and fruiting.

Strawberries in PVC pipes – wintering

As already mentioned, growing strawberries in pipes requires using varieties that are not only productive but also frost-resistant. However, it is important to be aware that the specific nature of growing strawberries in pipes means that the risk of the plants freezing is very high. Therefore, for winter, it is recommended to place the pipes with the plants in an unheated greenhouse or tunnel and cover them with fleece. Another solution may be to overwinter them in a garage or utility building, but it must be remembered not to maintain temperatures that are too high there, as this may disrupt the plant’s life cycle.

Planting strawberries in pipes is a solution that works both in amateur and professional cultivation. Its growing popularity can be seen in how often the phrase “vertical strawberry cultivation” is typed into search engines, which is truly high. The advantage in this case is the increased efficiency of cultivation on a small area, which is important for professional production, as well as the possibility of creating an unusual garden decoration, which strawberries growing in pipes undoubtedly are.