Learn how to grow strawberries from seeds with a single packet and these step-by-step instructions.
Growing strawberries from seed?
These hybrid berries have been developed by plant breeders who crossbred plants over many years.
Credit: Stephen Cridland
Researchers select hybrids based on their fruit size and quality, along with the ease of growing.
Hybrid strawberries dont reliably reproduce by seed.
Instead, they aregrown from transplants.
Strawberries started from seed are usuallyalpine strawberriesor close cousins to alpines.
These plants produce petite berries (the fruit is just about an inch long) in spring and summer.
How to Grow Strawberries from Seeds
Strawberry seeds are tiny and require special care at planting time.
Sow the tiny seeds in a seed-starting flat or shallow container filled with fine seed-starting mix.
Sprinkle the seeds on top of the starting mix.
Barely cover the seeds with soil; they need light to germinate.
Mist the soil daily to keep it moist but not wet.
Provide a strong light source above the seeded flat.
Agrow light or a shop lightpositioned about 6 inches above the flat will help seeds germinate.
Maintain a moderate air temperature around the flat.
Strawberry seeds germinate best at 65 to 70F.
Alpine strawberries can also be seeded directly in the garden after the last frost.
Continue to mist the soil, and don’t allow it to dry out.
Provide plenty of light as you wait.
Plant in Landscape Beds or Containers
Alpine strawberries are greatlow-growing edging plants.
Plant them at the front of a perennial border or landscape bed to create a neat and tidy edge.
Alpine strawberries alsogrow well in containersof all types.
They will flower and fruit when they receive at least 6 hours of bright sunlight a day.
The more sunlight they receive, the more fruit they will produce.
Alpine strawberries grow in clumps 6 to 8 inches across and about 6 inches tall.
Unlike traditional strawberries, they do notproduce runners and spread to form colonies.
So, plant transplants 8 inches or so apart to create a dense, groundcover-style planting.
Remember to Water
Regular watering is keyto good berry production.
Your strawberry plants need about 1 inch of water a week.
Supplement rainfall withhand-watering as neededto reach this amount.
But before watering, check the soil moisture.
If the top inch is moist, dont water.
Harvest the berries from your seed-grown strawberry plants when they are fully red and only slightly firm.
This is best done early in the morning when the berries are cool and less likely to bruise.
Usesharp garden shearsor gently pinch the berries off the stems, leaving a bit of stem attached.
Harvesting regularly without damaging the stems will encourage a continuous bounty of berries.
While planting, incorporate some compost and a bit of slow-release organic fertilizer into the soil.
After the plants have matured, fertilize them each spring with a balanced granular fertilizer.
During the growing season, feed your plants with a dose of liquid fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks.
Divide your plants every few years to keep them healthy and productive.
Alpine strawberries can handle temperatures as low as -20F and slightly lower with the protection of a heavy mulch.
