Growing strawberries in a tropical climate??

[rprimbs]

I know it's a little off topic -- since strawberries are not particularly tropical -- but I am curious if anybody had succeeded with strawberries in a tropical climate.

Here in Southern California we can grow daylight neutral strawberries nearly year round. But in my experience they only do well when potted in an acid loving potting mix. I tried four other popular potting mixes and killed all of the strawberries in a little over 3 weeks. I think that there is something in the mix that must be toxic to the strawberries since several of the mixes were sterilized. So I use an "azalea" potting mix.

Do strawberries have a chill requirement? Could you grow them in a tropical climate if you stuck them in a freezer for part of the year? Like you can do with tulip bulbs. Or would that kill them??

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Strawberries are a huge Florida winter crop. I would assume they would grow well in the tropics at a bit of elevation.

[aussiearoids]

Lots up on the tablelands here .. many hydroponic growers.

[Tropicgardener]

A winter crop here too,,,,,,they struggle in summer.

[dan.vagnoni]

I just hopped up on the roof to get a picture. Tried to get some palms in there too for the tropical aspect

[tropicbreeze]

Tried them once many years ago. They were dead in no time.

[realarch]

Boy Dan, you're going for the 'layered' look. Palms on the roof....awesome.

[doranakandawatta]

Sri Lanka has lovely Strawberry fields in Nuwara Eliya, in the mountains, Lovely taste!
They get some cool days and cold nights, and plenty of rain!