How to Grow Wild Strawberry Seeds

Grow wild strawberries from seeds to enjoy the sweet fruit.

Wild strawberries, also known as "woodland" strawberries, grow naturally in the northern hemisphere. Wild strawberry plants have dark and glossy green leaves, and grow best in USDA zones 4 to 9. Wild strawberries are smaller than commercial strawberries, but have a sweeter taste. The plants produce over a long period, so if you want a lot of strawberries, you will need to plant a few dozen to have a steady supply.

Things You'll Need

• Peat moss
• Coarse builder's sand
• Vermiculite
• Seed flats
• Bowl
• Clear plastic wrap
• 3-inch pot
• Organic matter
• Hay

Instructions

1. Freeze the wild strawberry seeds for 3 weeks. Cold-stratifying the seeds will put them in a dormant period, which will ensure that the seeds germinate properly.

2. Combine one part peat moss, one part coarse builder's sand and one part vermiculite. Fill seed-starting flats with this medium and moisten the soil with water.

3. Place the seeds in a bowl with lukewarm water. Soak the wild strawberry seeds overnight to soften the hard seed coating.

4. Sow the strawberry seeds on the growing medium surface in groups of seeds. Space the seeds 4 inches apart, and then cover them with ¼ inch of vermiculite. Mist the soil with water.

5. Cover the seed flats with plastic wrap and place the seeds in a warm room to encourage germination. The seeds will germinate in 7 to 21 days. Once the seeds sprout, remove the plastic wrap.

6. Place the seed flat in a sunny and warm window. Continue to keep the soil moist and do not allow it to dry out.

7. Thin out the weaker seedlings. Transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots once the seedlings reach 2 inches in height. Fill the pot with the growing medium, and place the crown of the plant slightly above the soil level.

8. Transplant the wild strawberries outdoors in the fall. Choose a location with well-drained soil and full sunlight. Keep the soil moist, but avoid over-watering it. Amend soil that has a lot of clay or soil that drains poorly, adding organic matter to it. Plant the strawberries in raised beds.

9. Place a 3- to 4-inch layer of hay around the strawberries to protect them from frost in the early spring.

References

• Fairfax County Public Schools: Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginiana
• Gardening Guides: How to Grow Strawberries
• Strawberry Recipes: Wild Strawberry