One of my favorite fruits to enjoy during the summer is strawberries. Once you have tasted your very own homegrown strawberries you will never again be satisfied with store bought.

No matter what season it is, you can grow your own strawberry plants. Container gardening is a very convenient and portable way of keeping your plants where you want them, which in turn allows you to grow strawberries year round.

Strawberry Varieties

The type of strawberry you choose depends on when you want your strawberries ready for harvest and how often. There are three main varieties, which are the everbearing, day neutral and June bearing.

The everbearing produce fruit in the spring, summer and fall. These berries are really juicy and sweet. They do not have too many runners, but you can separate plants at the roots when they bunch together. Replant the ones you dig up.

The day neutral will grow and ripen all summer long, which will give you a constant supply of fruit. Day neutrals are light sensitive and will set fruit no matter how short the days are, which makes them perfect for container gardening and growing indoors.

The June bearing will produce flowers and ripen fruit throughout the spring. They also have runners, which mean they branch out on the ground. The vine then roots in to start its own plant.

If you purchase starts from a nursery it will usually take the plant from one to two years before it will produce a good supply of fruit for you. If you want a bountiful harvest of berries in the same year, find plants that are already established and are bearing fruit or have blossomed.

Check around with friends or ask people that work in the nurseries if they know of anyone with established plants. Just dig the plant up at the roots and plant right away. Do not worry if they are already flowering, if you are careful, this should not harm the fruit production.

Planting Outdoors or Indoors – The Choice Is Yours

Strawberry plants, as with many other vegetables, can grow either outdoors or indoors. You may want to plant outside if you have a large area to plant. The more plants you grow the larger your strawberry harvest will be.

If you have a very small area or live in a tiny space, such as an apartment, you can still grow your own strawberries. This brings us to container gardening, and strawberry plants can flourish in containers.

You have an assortment of containers to choose. You can choose a more traditional planting pot, or the larger ones with holes on the sides for beautiful cascading strawberry vines.

Caring For Your Plants

If you are growing outdoors, fertilize and aerate the soil often. If the ground becomes hard and too compact around the roots, your plant will not flourish and may even die.

You will need to make sure your strawberry plant gets ample time in the sun. If you live in a cooler climate or your plant will be indoors year round, then I would suggest investing in a grow light. They range in sizes and costs. You are sure to find one that fits your budget and size constraints.

Harvest Time

During the first year, you will need to snip the flowers off your plant at the bud, if it is not an established plant. This will ensure an abundant harvest for next year and will ensure great harvests for years to come.

Allow the berry to ripen to a bright red and then pull at the base of the berry. If you try to pull the berry itself, you may end up smashing it. Depending on the amount of plants you have, be prepared to check your plants daily. Do not leave the berries on too long or they will rot. Also, snails love strawberries.

If you find that one year there is a very low crop, you may want to allow your plant to rest that year. Snip flower buds off your plant as you did in the first year. Fertilize and look forward to plenty of wonderfully juicy strawberries next year.

Bobbi Hunter is a featured writer for Xomba.com. You can read the rest of her work here .