@shazaam - That's somewhat true (within limits) of plants in the ground outdoors. Not so much for plants in containers. They are MUCH more susceptible to freezing damage. I've heard of them being overwintered in refrigerators - but if you put them in the freezer, as I've seen suggested from time to time, you can pretty much kiss them goodbye. I had the impression that the OP wants someplace indoors to keep them, given he/she said it's an apartment situation. @Smitten - actually that's a much better situation than most people have for their container strawberries. ONE plant in a 5 gallon container will be much stronger than 20 stuffed into holes all around the same container. Even the strawberry pots are not that great. What they really expect you to do with those is discard them at the end of the season and start over again with bare root plants. Strawberries grown that close together usually aren't very strong. How cold does it get there? There is another problem with overwintering strawberries, and that's if you don't get sufficient days below 45F (for outdoor overwintering). If it gets warm enough long enough to break their dormancy - and I don't remember what those conditions are, but it can happen - the chances for damage are just as high as if they freeze for long periods, or freeze/thaw multiple times (which is actually worse than freezing and staying that way). You could try overwintering them outdoors wrapped in burlap with straw or shredded paper stuffed around them (and the burlap wrapped around all to keep it in place).

I am growing my strawberry in a container (28 by 8 by 6 inches) as I do not have a garden. Currently, all the seeds have germinated and they are growing quite well apart from some "strange" leaves loss. I would like to know what is the space apart required for each strawberry plants. I understand from other threads its one foot apart but can i reduce the space in between? Since I have sow the seeds by scattering them, they are growing rather tightly to each other. Should I transplant now or wait till their roots are more established? With regards to the "strange" leaves loss, I would appreciate if you could assist as well at: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pests/msg0321175519904.html

What are my chances? I had a small strawberry area this year with a couple of main plants that had many new runners this year. I transplanted a couple of the plants and put them in large clay pots. A half dozen or so of the runners went in smaller clay pots (they had set themselves in the ground) and I got the whole root ball. By September I plan to transplant them into a shady area along the north side of my house that I had used as a compost area. 2'X12'. Then I will cover them with leaves, grass, and maybe a top layer of straw for the winter and then move them to a new bed come spring. I am not after crop but rather want to use the plants as hangers in a rock garden wall to be built in the late fall.

Brady, I don't recall what kind of mix I used but I want to replace it anyway, so suggestions are welcome! No, the barrels were not cut in half. We cut the top off, put drainage tubing inside and cut holes for the plants. It would seem to work well, but the varieties that i had in the barrel that I did get planted didn't do well, so I am looking for other varieties (we have 2 barrels). Ampersand, are Honeoye ever or June bearers? I saw them listed on a site for VA plants, but have not heard of them before. Thanks for the suggestions!