How to Plant Strawberry Seeds
Home-grown strawberries are the most economical way to keep fresh, organic fruit throughout the growing season. Strawberries are notorious for losing their flavor during shipping. Planting your own strawberry seeds and maintaining the plants will give your family access to the most flavorful strawberries and the assurance that your fruit is free of pesticides and harsh, chemical fertilizers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cold treat strawberry seeds to promote germination. Place the seeds in a re-sealable plastic bag and put it in the freezer for two weeks. Remove the seeds from the freezer. Allow them to slowly return to room temperature before planting.
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Mix two parts peat moss with one part potting soil. Spread a layer of this mixture ½-inch thick on the seed tray.
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Spread out the strawberry seeds on the top of the soil. Top with ¼-inch peat moss. Place the seed tray next to a window with direct sunlight. Gently sprinkle water across the top to dampen soil.
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Dampen the soil each time it feels dry. Allow three weeks for the seeds to sprout. Check the seeds by moving the moss aside and looking for strawberry leaves on the sprouts.
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When the strawberry plants have three leaves, transfer them to peat pots. Fill each pot halfway with your soil mixture. Make a hole in the center of the soil with your finger. Drop a sprout into the hole with the leaves pointing up. Cover the roots with soil.
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Keep the soil damp in the pots and leave in direct sunlight. Allow the plants to grow several inches to be sure they have strong stems. Transplant the strawberry seedlings into an outside bed. Allow 8 inches between each strawberry plant.
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Watch for small, white blossoms to appear on the strawberry plants. Pinch each one off and discard until the plants have survived the first winter.
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Water the strawberry bed in the morning hours. Allow enough time for leaves and stems to dry before nightfall to prevent plant mold.
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Check the strawberry beds regularly for weeds. Gently pull weeds out by hand and discard far away from the beds. Concentrate on maintaining weed free beds for at least 12 months, or until the plants shade out weeds on their own.
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Tips & Warnings
Cover the strawberry beds in the fall with hay, straw, or peat moss.
Do not seed strawberries in beds previously used for tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, or older strawberries. This will put your new plants at risk for mold and disease. Do not use sawdust or leaf mulch in your strawberry beds. It will smother the plants.
