Sowing is the only method of propagation for monthly strawberries. Sowing other strawberry varieties serves as an exciting option for breeding offshoots. Find out about the right approach here.
How to grow strawberries from seeds?
To grow strawberries from seeds, it is important to respect the correct period (late February to early March) and prepare the seeds (soak them in water or chamomile tea). Sowing in special substrates, a partially shaded, moist environment and transplanting the seedlings into their own pots promote successful offspring.
Harvest seeds on your own
Although their name suggests otherwise, strawberries are considered collective nut fruits. This circumstance implies that there is an abundant amount of seeds directly on the pericarp. By splitting a ripe strawberry and leaving the cut to dry on paper towels, you will harvest seeds in abundance. From a botanical point of view, the tiny yellow nuts are the actual fruits.
The seeds are stored dry, cool and dark because they are light germinators.
Instructions for sowing indoors
The ideal period for sowing strawberry seeds is from the end of February to the beginning of March. Follow these steps to sow:
- Soak the seeds in water at room temperature for a few hours
- fill a large seed tray with commercially available sowing soil, peat sand or coconut fiber
- sow the seeds and sift them minimally with substrate, sand or vermiculite
- Moisturize with a fine spray and place in the indoor greenhouse
- alternatively, cover with a transparent film or place a pane of glass
- store in a partially shaded place at a germination temperature of 18 degrees
The time until germination takes between 2 and 6 weeks, depending on the strawberry variety. If the two cotyledons are present, the cover is ventilated daily. The seeds must not dry out during this phase and should be provided with the brightest possible lighting conditions.
Skillfully pricking with sensitivity
Loving care allows the strawberry seedlings to grow quickly. Within a short time, the small community becomes tense. It's high time to transplant the strongest specimens into your own pots. Ideally, you should use special potting soil that is filled into the pot a few centimeters high. Create a hollow in it.
With a good deal of sensitivity, each seedling is lifted out of the seed tray using the pricking stick to move to its new location. Only plant the young plant deep enough so that the heart bud is above the substrate.
Tips & Tricks
If the seeds swell in chamomile tea, this measure promotes the resistance of strawberry plants to fungal diseases. Pour seeds and tea into a thermos to maintain the temperature at the desired lukewarm level.