How to Start Strawberry Seeds Indoors Using an Egg Carton

Starting seeds in egg cartons is a great way to recycle.

Strawberries are more closely related to roses than they are to berries. Because the "seeds" that grow on the outside of the fruit are actually the true fruit, called achenes, the strawberry is not a true berry. Each seed on a strawberry contains different genetics if the strawberry is a hybrid cultivar, so the type of strawberry you will end up with when planting these seeds, may be completely different from the mother strawberry. Start your strawberry seeds in an egg carton in February.

Things You'll Need

• Egg carton
• Scissors
• Toothpicks
• Sand
• Potting soil
• Compost
• Misting bottle filled with water

Instructions

1. Cut the top off the egg carton. Turn it over and, using a toothpick or other small, sharp implement, poke several small holes in the bottom of each cell for drainage.

2. Combine equal parts of sand, compost and potting soil, moisten it and allow it to drain. Fill each cell of the egg carton to within 1/2 inch of the top with the soil mixture.

3. Place 2 or 3 seeds on top of the soil in each cell. Strawberry seeds are tiny, so use a moistened toothpick to pick them up and lay them on the soil.

4. Cover the seeds with sand. The seeds should be barely covered.

5. Mist the sand in each cell with a misting bottle and keep the soil moist at all times. Place the egg carton in a cool area that receives moderate light (out of direct sun), until the strawberry seeds germinate. This should occur within 8 weeks.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Starting Seeds Indoors
• Alberta Egg Producers: Egg Carton Ideas
• Pickyourown.org/University of California: Strawberries: Save Methods To Store, Preserve and Enjoy
• "Burpee Seed Starter: A Guide to Growing Flower, Vegetable, and Herb Seeds Indoors and Outdoors”; Maureen Heffernan; 1997

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The Garden of Eaden: How To Collect and Prepare Strawberry Seed For Propagation