Thanks for the advice so far. PharmaChad - I have watered about twice a week using a soaker hose. Last night I watered the raised bed enough that the ground around it was soggy. I pulled up the plant to look at the root ball an hour later and it seemed to me to be dry on the inside. Here's a photo. Brady - I first noticed the browning yesterday (Thr) and I'm out in the garden every day. We had temps about 98 degrees down here on Tuesday. I watered on Monday evening, but maybe it wasn't enough. I have a ph test kit on the way from Amazon.com and I'll check as soon as it gets here. I'm thinking that the water isn't penetrating the root ball enough. The raised bed soil in the bed is getting very wet, but the root ball isn't nearly as wet. That's probably a bad sign, right?

I would think 4 inches of soil is good enough. Strawberries have very shallow root systems. However, the soil looks very dry on the picture. I think that is your issue. If kept indoors, you need to water it at least every couple of days, and ensure the soil is always moist, never dry. I would plant it in the ground, and not just leave it in a pot outside. Put it in the ground, water it, cover with straw or mulch, and you're done until next spring as it will simply go dormant. In fact I just did this myself in November with about 35 new strawberry plants. Next season we'll see how successful it is. But it's worked for me in the past, at least with one plant (not 35!).

first.. you are welcome ... second.. talk with g-ma.. i am betting she understands the challenge she gave you ... you are wound up in the gift.. and the sentiment .. and she gave you a Gordian knot ... lol .. see link .. i think she challenged you.. to get you interested in gardening.. not to give you an heirloom gift that will last for the ages.. so keep that in mind.. the gift she gave.. would be the love of working in mother earth.. not a strawberry .. and never forget that.. even if the plant fails .. got it???? .. she gave you the plant.. i gave you the wisdom ... third.. here in GW is a fruit forum.. as well as container growing forum .. and houseplant forum ... knowledge is the goal ... so where ever you get it.. good for you ... next.. doenst it look better already ... finally ... that is a very shallow tray.. and i am thinking it doesnt have drainage holes.. be very careful about drowning the roots in too much water ... since its just been planted.. or so i presume.. lets give it some time to get going.. and when you see a vigorous new leaf coming out.. take off another of the old ones.. and keep doing that.. until you have a clean plant ...but if you ever get to repotting.. there might be better potting MEDIA.. and a better pot.. to grow it in ... finally.. do you know why they are called STRAWberries ... get this.. they are grown on straw .. to keep them .. fruit and leaves ... OFF THE SOIL .. if you could add such.. or something.. to keep the leaves off the media/soil .. you MIGHT help the situation .... find the fruit forum.. start a new post.. and link back to this post .. and see what if anything they might suggest.. that will differ from what i am saying.. i dont mind being corrected ... good luck ... say hi to g-ma for me.. lol ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

A northwest window on top of the t.v. console is not enough light! It needs LOTS of very bright indirect light or a mix of indirect and dappled direct sun. The new growth is stretching because of low light levels and older leaves are prematurely dropping as the plant pulls needed resources our of old tissue to fuel growth. I've purchased several different plant species is self watering pots and invariably find them moderately to severely root bound, that is, when you go to knock the plant out of it's pot, there is nothing but a solid mass of roots, no loose soil. At this point the soil is exhausted. Fertilizing alone is of limited help. Re-potting must be done.