Planting the Strawberry Pot

It must first pass the sniff test...:)
Once my Golden said it is alright we can begin...

The terracotta must be soaked wet a few times as your getting your other things ready. If you do not wet the pot well it will suck up all the moisture from the potting mix and stress the new transplants.
You must use real quality potting mix, NOT soil!
I used an organic by Miracle Grow.

Place a few stones over the drain hole to keep in the soil when you water it.
This bag was so heavy, I used the trash barrel that was curb side to carry it.
Trash got put away all in one motion :)
Place a tub of wrapping or a pipe in the center.
Some folks drill holes in a white pipe, but my sweet Mr is busy.
I read this method and liked the ease of it.

In the center of the pot fill the tube with stones.
Add poting mix up to a few inches below the first wholes
Gently lean the tube over
Insert the plant from INSIDE as to protect the root ball.
Then ever so gently tease out the leaves.
With the gentleness needed press the plant with its soil against the hole and make sure the center of the plant is not covered with soil
by pressing the moist plant soil into the side wall of the pot it will form into the shape.

The view from inside the pot shows the root ball.
I added bone meal at this point

as the layers build gently add potting mix and lightly press mix down and against sides of pot to avoid air holes , but do not compact the potting mix. The roots will spread freely.
The harder part is to cut off all flowers and fruits!
This so the plant will have all of itself to grow roots.

You know what he is thinking...
"oh Mom how nice of you to get this just for me."

Once height is filled with mix lift out the tube and the stones remain in the center of the pot for good water distribution.

compost fodder.