How To Grow Strawberry From Seeds
When Planting Strawberry from Seeds, many different factors can affect the germination percentage of plants, such as temperature, humidity and sunlight.
Growing strawberry plants from seed is not as simple as buying strawberry plants. But, it can be much more rewarding as well.
Many strawberry seeds need to be cold treated to encourage germination.
Simply wrap your seeds, put them in an airtight container, and place them in a freezer. This simulates winter conditions, and the warming period lets the seed know it is time to come to life. After keeping the strawberry seeds below freezing for two to four weeks, remove the seeds from the freezer. Leave them in the jar or container as they gradually warm up to room temperature.
So, you'll want strawberry indoors in early spring in order to help them along until the last frosts are finished. It will take several weeks for germination.
These planting steps are available for all Strawberry Types
How to plant Strawberry:
Once your strawberry seeds are at room temperature and are ready plant, you need to create favorable conditions for your seeds to start their journey.
Step 1:
Choose a growing location that receives at least six hours of direct sun every day. Prepare the area in early spring when the soil is warm, yet is not overly wet. Add compost to the soil and work it well with the garden spade to incorporate the compost completely into the soil.
Step 2:
Sprinkle 1 pound of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of growing area onto the soil. Work the fertilizer into the soil about 8 inches deep with the spade.
Step 3:
Select the type of strawberries you want to grow. Spring-bearing strawberry plants produce berries for several weeks in June. Everbearing strawberry plants produce berries three times a year--in spring, summer and autumn. Day neutral strawberry plants produce berries throughout the entire growing season. Everbearing strawberries and day neutral strawberries are best suited for gardens where space is limited.
Step 4:
A seed tray works well. Obtain a seed tray and prepare it. A good mix for starting strawberry seeds is 3 parts peat to 1 part organic-rich soil. Spread this out in your seed tray to a depth of about one half of an inch. Moisten the mixture with water until it is uniformly damp.
Step 5:
Sprinkle your strawberry seeds over the damp mixture and then cover the seeds with a very thin dusting of peat moss. Ensure that the strawberry seeds are not completely covered and are exposed to light.
Step 6:
Keep them indoors in a well-lighted room and in direct sunlight, if possible. In two to three weeks, the strawberry seeds should germinate.
If the strawberry seeds sprout too close to each other, thin them when they are between 1 and 2 inches tall, keeping the biggest and most vigorous seedlings. Gently transfer the strawberry seedlings to larger containers or pots after they gain their 3rd leaves.
Step 7:
Prepare planting rows. Space spring-bearing strawberries 18 to 30 inches apart in rows that are between 3 and 4 feet apart. Space everbearing and day neutral strawberries 12 inches apart in rows that are 2 feet apart.
Step 8:
Dig holes for the strawberry plants so that the roots have adequate room on all sides and the soil will be just above the root tops. Place the plants in the holes and pat the soil around them so that the crowns are slightly above the soil level.
Step 9:
Water the strawberry plants generously after planting. Mulch around the plants with straw to help prevent weeds and keep the soil moist.
10. NOTE: During the flowering period: keep the maximum temperature in control at 77- 80F (25 ~ 27C). If you plant Strawberry in a greenhouse and the temperature rise to 80F (27C) or more, you should provide appropriate ventilation. Shadow at noon and appropriate ventilation facilitate pollination.
From zone 6 northward, strawberries are best planted in spring so they will be well-rooted by the following winter.
In USDA zones 9 to 10, however, strawberries are most commonly grown as cool-season annuals; that is, they're planted in the fall, bear fruit in the spring and then are tilled under in the summer to be replaced with new plants the following fall.
In central and east Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, plant strawberries in September; in the hottest parts of south Texas, wait until November.
In north Texas, plant in late winter or early spring.