Yes, but use at least a half-gallon jar, cover it to block light and expect to top it up often. A quart jar is too small to carry a fruiting strawberry plant for long.
Why Jar Size Matters
A fruiting strawberry plant drinks a lot. In a quart jar that can mean the level falling by a large part of the jar in a few warm days. Small volumes also swing quickly in nutrient strength and pH, because there is so little solution to buffer the change.
- Quart jar: fine for starting a young plant, then move it on.
- Half-gallon jar: workable for one plant with regular attention.
- Larger containers: easier in every way if you have the space.
Block the Light
Clear glass lets light reach the solution, and algae follows within days. Cover the jar with a sleeve, a sock, paint, tape or foil. Leave a narrow strip uncovered, or make the cover removable, so you can still see the level.
Fitting a Net Cup
A 3 inch net cup sits neatly in the mouth of a wide-mouth jar. Regular-mouth jars need a smaller cup, which is a tight fit for a strawberry crown, so choose wide-mouth if you are buying jars for this.
Looking After It
- Check the level every two or three days once the plant is growing strongly.
- Top up part way with plain water or weak solution, always leaving an air gap.
- Replace the whole solution every couple of weeks. In a jar this takes a minute.
- Keep the jar out of hot afternoon sun, since a small volume of solution heats up fast.
A jar is a good way to learn how the method works with one plant on a windowsill. For a real harvest, move up in size.
Related guide: Containers for Kratky strawberries.
