1. Home
  2. Gardening

You only need these 5 items to build your own strawberry tower

By Cayla Leonard

Fresh strawberries are sweet and delicious, and they’re not too difficult to grow. If you just want a few strawberries every so often, then a single, potted strawberry plant may be enough. If you want more, though, maybe for jams or jellies, then a strawberry tower is just what you need! It maximizes the amount of strawberry plants while minimizing the amount of space needed. You can buy a strawberry tower, sure, but you can also build your own. Here’s what you need in order to make your very own strawberry tower!

What is a strawberry tower?

A strawberry tower is, as the name suggests, a tower on which strawberry plants are grown. The strawberry plants are stacked, which increases visual appeal and the amount of plants you can have in a limited space. A strawberry tower can be a series of stacked or nested individual planters, but the more space-efficient tower is a single column with multiple strawberry plants growing from the sides and tops. This makes it excellent for any area, whether you’re putting your tower outside or squeezing it into one corner of your apartment.

Recommended Videos

Strawberry towers are very easy to make, and there are a couple different ways you can go about constructing one. They can be as complicated and artistic as you want, and you can make them out of almost any material you have on hand. We’re going to be covering the most basic DIY version of a strawberry tower, but feel free to put your own spin on it!

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Basic tools

To make your strawberry tower, you’ll need a few basic hand tools. You’ll need a drill with a drill bit that is two inches across or a similar size. This creates the holes in the side that the plants grow out of, so you need it to be big enough for your plants, but the size can vary.

You also need a hacksaw or similar blade. The exact blade can vary depending on your skill level and the material you choose for your base. It’s used to cut the bottoms off of the bucket(s) used to form the tower.

If the bucket(s) you use for your base have handles, you’ll need pliers to remove them. You’ll also need a smaller blade, such as a pocket knife or scissors, to cut through the lining in the same place that you’ve drilled your holes. A marker or pen is also useful to draw where you want your holes before you drill.

Remember to be careful when drilling and sawing! Having eye and mouth protection is a great way to protect yourself from any flying pieces of plastic.

Bucket or buckets

To form the main column of the tower you’ll need buckets. The exact number and size depends on how tall you want your tower to be. You can use any bucket, but all your buckets should be the same size, or, at the very least, the same width. This is so  they stack properly. BPA-free plastic is typically preferred, but the material is up to you.

Cut the bottom off the bucket that will form the base so that excess water can drain from your tower. If you’re planning on having this tower indoors, you may need an additional tray for your tower to sit in, so that the water can drain without damaging your floors. For any additional buckets, cut the bottom plus an additional inch to inch and a half. This should make them stack. Once they’re stacked, you can drill the holes in, and then paint or decorate if you’d like.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Liner

To keep the soil from spilling out of the holes, you’ll need something to line the inside of the tower. While any material can be used, keep in mind that this will be in constant contact with the soil and plants. It needs to be something that won’t break down and harm your plants. Look for garden cloth or burlap. You can secure it to the top of your tower with anything you’d like, from clothes pins to glue. Once your tower is lined, cut out the holes where the plants will grow through. Now you’re ready to fill it with soil and plant your strawberries!

There you have it, the basic version of a strawberry tower! This simple but marvelous way to grow a lot of fruit in a little space can be yours with just a few hours of work, some basic tools, two main items, and, of course, some soil and strawberry plants. Remember to be safe when using any tools, measure twice and cut once, and let your creative spirit take the reins! Your strawberry tower can take on so many different forms and appearances now that you know the standard base. So enjoy your fresh strawberries and the satisfaction that comes from making something with your own hands.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Cayla Leonard
Contributor
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
Zone 9b planting guide: Everything you need to know about nourishing a garden in this warm climate
The best plants to grow in zone 9b and when to grow them

From show-stopping roses to hardy agave, zone 9b is home to plants of all stripes, thanks to its warm, sunny conditions. It’s also an ideal environment for a wide range of fruits and veggies, whether you’re partial to hot peppers or sweet cherries. Its hot summers can be challenging, but it’s generally a productive and lush area for thriving plant life. Here’s your zone 9b planting guide so you can nourish a fruitful and beautiful garden in one of the country's warmest areas.

What is a climate zone?
With climate zones on the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the United States Department of Agriculture divides the country into 13 regions based on average annual minimum temperature ranges. The temperature ranges go from coldest to hottest as we move from zone 1 to 13. Zone 9b, as you may have already guessed, falls on the warmer parts of the map.

Read more
Enrich your soil: The 5 best composts for gardens
Everything you need to know about choosing the right compost for your plants

When you first start gardening, it's overwhelming to think about all the things you have to keep track of to grow healthy and happy plants. For example, one of the most common topics beginner gardeners worry about is buying the best composts for gardens.

What type should you use, when should you use it, how much of it should you use, and if there's a specific one you should use for particular types of gardening? This can all become intimidating quickly, but we promise that after you read the information below, you'll feel confident in your ability to successfully add compost to your garden soil.

Read more
6 beautiful, fast-growing trees you should plant in your yard
Consider one of these trees if you don't want to wait too many years for them to fully mature

Trees are an amazing part of nature, and they have many uses in your yard and garden. You can plant them for a number of reasons, such as to offer a home to birds, to absorb carbon dioxide, to offer privacy, and even to produce fruit. Unfortunately, trees are also among the slowest-growing plants. If you want a tree in your yard but don’t want to wait, then this is the guide for you! Here are six fast-growing trees for you to add to your yard or garden.

Weeping willow
If you have a water source in your yard, then you may have already thought about how nice weeping willows look next to them. If you’ve wanted to plant one but were hesitant, then there’s good news. Weeping willows grow a few feet per year, typically in the 3- to 4-foot range, which is fairly fast for a tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall.

Read more