🍓 How I Started Growing Over 100 Strawberries on a Rooftop in the Philippines
Growing over 100 strawberries on my rooftop rain or shine?
If someone told me a year ago that I’d be caring for over a hundred strawberry plants on a rooftop — I would’ve giggled with disbelief. Strawberries? In the humid tropics? On a gusty roof? Surely not.
But here I am, surrounded by delicate green leaves, tiny white flowers, and the promise of ruby-red fruits dancing under the sky. This is the beginning of my Strawberry Tales from the Fig Kingdom — and I’m so excited to share it with you. 🍓✨
🍓 Why Strawberries? (A True Tropical Tale)
I’ve always loved growing things — especially figs. But there was something irresistibly magical about strawberries: the color, the fragrance, the sweetness, the challenge. I saw a few runners for sale and thought… “Why not?” 🌱
And after reading “🔗 Strawberry care in tropical climates ” that says “Strawberries can grow even in tropical climates, with the right techniques and timing. Strawberryplants.org has great tips for beginners.” And 🔗 Container gardening basics- “If you’re new to growing in pots, Better Homes & Gardens has a handy guide on container gardening.”
So I bought 6 rooted runners.
They all died back. 😢
Still hopeful, I bought another 6.
Only 2 survived. It was summer — hot, dry, and unforgiving — but I wasn’t ready to give up.
So I tried again. This time, I ordered 12 runners.
Only 5 made it.
Then, one last time — a hopeful final try — I bought 25 runners.
Just 3 survived.
At that point, I felt frustrated and defeated. I nearly convinced myself that strawberries just weren’t meant to grow on rooftops in the Philippines. I quit buying. I quit hoping.
But then came September.
Out of nowhere, those ten survivors started flowering. 🌸 Tiny, delicate white blooms peeked from the green — fragile but full of promise.
I trimmed off the first wave of flowers to help the plants grow stronger. And a few weeks later, to my amazement… I harvested my first few strawberries. 🍓💫
A few months after that, the runners came — wild and determined. They stretched across the pots like they were building a little strawberry empire of their own.
Now, almost 22 months after I started this uncertain journey, I counted every single plant from mother to daughter to grand-daughter.
And guess what?
Over 100 strawberries are now growing — strong, healthy, and fruiting — right here on my windy rooftop in the heart of the city.
I once doubted it.
Now I believe in it completely.
Strawberries can grow here. And they can thrive.
🌧️ Wind, Rain, and Roof Battles of Growing over 100 strawberries in pots
This rooftop isn’t a gentle place. It’s not a cozy greenhouse or mountain farm.
It’s a battlefield — gusty winds, sudden typhoons, heavy rains, and intense tropical sun.
The first few weeks were chaotic.
Pots got blown over.
Leaves got scorched.
Rain nearly drowned the roots.
Sunlight came and went like a moody guest.
But with time and lots of figuring out — I learned to anchor the pots, create partial shade, adjust watering schedules, and watch closely for changes. Most importantly, I learned to listen to my plants.
Now, those plants don’t just survive — they multiply and smile back.
And this journey started right on my Figgylicious rooftop garden where the cheerful sun kisses my figs and berries all day.
🍃 What This Growing Strawberries Series Is All About..
This is the first post in my Strawberry Series, where I’ll show you exactly how I grow strawberries in the Philippines — from bare-root runners to sweet harvests.
It will be honest, simple, tropical-tested, and beginner-friendly.
Here’s what’s coming:
🌱 How to plant bare-root strawberries in pots
🌿 My go-to soil mix, fertilizers, and watering routine
🌧️ How to protect strawberries during wet season
☀️ How to boost growth even with limited sun
🍓 What to do to make them bloom and bear fruits
🐛 Safe sprays for pests and diseases
🪴 When and how to repot runners and mother plants
This series is for rooftop dreamers, tropical gardeners, and anyone who’s ever wondered:
“Can strawberries really grow here?”
Spoiler: They can. And they will. With love, care, and a little fig-spiration. 🍓💚
💌Growing Over 100 Strawberries in less than two years is a huge start, So Let’s grow More together!
I’ll be posting new updates weekly, sharing real lessons and discoveries straight from my urban strawberry patch.
And yes — my fig trees are still here, watching and cheering from their royal corners of the garden. We’re all growing together. 🌿👑
Up next:
👉 Where to Get Strawberry Runners or Bare Roots — and How to Choose the Best
Mwah mwah! Sending hugs from the rooftop!
With love & leaves,
Your Fig & Berry Queen 🍓👑
