STORY 21 April 2026

Strawberries | How To Water Containers Effectively

By Catherine Brady

What To Do Now: Hugh Cassidy

Hugh Cassidy grows a container garden for flowers, food and fun in his tiny, north-west facing courtyard which measures just 3 metres by 6 metres. He shares his gardening experiences as Hugh.Cassidy on Instagram and HortiHugh on YouTube.

Working with a pot garden means that we need to check pots regularly for watering. It is not unusual to see one or both of us out, watering cans in hand, even during or after a shower of rain.
Rain often does not provide sufficient water for plants that are putting on soft growth, coming in to flower, or beginning to produce fruits.


Simply poke a finger a centimetre or two into the compost to check if it is dry. If this is the case, drench the pot by filling it to the brim with water, allow it to drain, and repeat. If some pots are dry on an almost daily basis, consider placing saucers underneath to capture water that might otherwise drain away.

This applies especially to our delicious strawberries which are thirsty plants. To get the best from strawberries as the fruit develops, place trays underneath the pots, topped up with water.

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