Don't grow them now, but did years ago; outside in the garden. I find it important to put down mulch of straw (you can use layer of newspaper, even plastic...but may not lok so great) so the fruit does not touch soil/does't get splashed in rain.
I am sure there are many ideas, here are few links:

http://www.gardeningclan.com/grow-strawberries-container.html

http://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-build-a-strawberry-planter-tips-and-plans/

http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/earthbox

http://www.netmums.com/activities/in-the-garden/gardening-growing-veg-strawberries

http://www.self-sufficient.co.uk/Grow-Strawberries-in-Hanging-Baskets.htm

I know that there are different options. As far as I can tell the most common are: 1) a regular pot, 2) one of those strawberry pots with multiple openings, 3) the hanging bags approach, 4) in the ground

But I cant seem to find really good reviews, so I was hoping some people on here could speak from experience about which method really worked best for them (and whether it would also work for a newbie)

PJ,
your strawberries look fine. What do you use for "1/8 strength fertigation"?

Hi briergardener!
I use Miracle Grow 24-8-16 w/ micros, diluted to 1/8 strength, plus about 1 tsp of white vinegar per gallon.

PJ

why vinegar? help keep the soil acidic?

Hey there queenskitchen!
Yes, that's part of it. Adding vinegar will nuetralize alkalinity AND lower ph. High alkalinity levels consistantly present in your soil solution can raise the soil ph over time. Additionally, uptake of nutrients is much more favorable when the ph of your soil solution is significantly lower than most peoples tap water. The objective is to get your fertigation solution down to the mid 5's prior to application.

PJ

thanks PJ. this will be the first year growing strawbs for me (in flowerboxes) and i already have a bunch of leftover MG in that same formula. that was part of what i was attempting to make the 5-1-1 for. I may give up on the screening and attempt a 5-2 with perlite. i may try it in a small container and water to see how quickly it runs out.

I have several strawberry pots - the big terracotta ones with many holes on the sides for the plants and a planting area at the top - and several generic pots of various sizes, including a hanging pot. The first lot of a dozen small strawberry plants last year turned into many dozen this year after they put out runners which I clipped and planted. Now they have a lot of fruit coming along and are growing vigorously despite this being a very dry winter. The key with the strawberry pots is water - you can't get enough water to the roots via the little plant holes on the sides with plants sticking out of them. So I installed a small terra cotta pot in the center of the top, flush with the soil surface and balanced on another pot that was upside down inside the pot, and water heavily through them, so the water gets deep inside the pot to the plant roots. Next one I put together I think I'll use an old one liter milk bottle with holes poked in it, to get slightly better water distribution. The plants in other more normal pots just need regular water. Anyway the strawberry pots are suited to the task and handle a lot of plants in a smallish footprint. HTH sb

There's always some yahoo in the crowd that will disagree and in this case, it's me!!

I think strawberry pots are a waste of time. Unless you get the largest you can find, the individual holes are simply too small to support a fully mature plant. And watering is an issue, although a perforated PVC pipe in the center of the pot does help to get water properly down to the lower plants. And since strawberry plants need to be replaced every couple of years, what do you do with the runner babies until then? IMO, strawberry pots are much better used as an herb garden or for planting up succulents. But that's just me.....:-)

I'd prefer to plant strawberries in the ground but where that is not possible, the bags work very well for at least a single season. Again, I find that the plants should be be replaced annually to get the best results.

LOL I hear you. I was quite skeptical when I set them up in the strawberry pots, was aware of the issues with them. I inherited several strawberry pots with the house we bought. I was going to put succulents in them and then thought well I'll try strawberries in them once and then I'll know what I'm talking about when I tell people how compromised they are for actually growing strawberries. So I have been surprised how well they work out. But yes getting water in deep is key.

I clipped the runners and planted them, some in another strawberry pot and some in other pots. I guess they will get a bit bigger in the other pots but so far they all look good. The newer runner plants look better and have more flowers/fruit than the couple of remaining mother plants from last year, which are looking old and tired now.

Eventually I'll put in a bed for strawberries as I think that'll be best for them, but probably not this year, am building some other beds first.
sb