How to grow strawberries from seed? Useful tips. Preparing for planting in unprotected soil or greenhouse

Growing strawberries from seeds is a rather laborious and lengthy process. Therefore, it is worth doing this only in those cases when it is necessary to propagate the variety you like. Well, or if there is a desire to take care of something for a long time and painstakingly.

Strawberries are long-growing crops with a small percentage of germination. The most popular among gardeners was the method of propagation by mustache or division of bushes. But if you need to grow strawberries from seeds, then you should strictly adhere to all the recommendations below.

Seed selection

The most effective will be the cultivation of strawberries from seeds collected with my own hands. It's worth the time and effort spent here. After all, most likely, the seeds were collected from the variety you liked, which surprised you with its palatability or a bountiful harvest. Subject to the rules of collection and storage planting material germination can be improved by a third.

To collect strawberry seeds, you need to take a ripe, but not overripe fruit, soak in warm water for 3-4 days. It should be remembered that hybrids when propagating on their own harvested seeds do not repeat all the qualities of the mother bush, so the variety must be chosen appropriate. Gently grind the strawberries that have fermented in the water through a sieve, rinse the seeds that have separated from it running water, dry well for several days and pack in paper bags. Planting material should be stored in a cool, dark place.

When buying seeds, you need to pay attention to the period of their collection and storage. It is desirable that this be fresh planting material collected in the previous season. Seeds stored for a year or more lose their germination capacity significantly.

Soil preparation and containers

Land intended for growing strawberries should be given special attention. From sowing to seedlings, which have reached the required size for planting in open ground, it takes about three months. Therefore, all this time the soil must be in a decent condition.

The ideal option for growing such long-growing crops as strawberries are peat tablets. They are completely ready to use, you just need to feed them with water and plant seeds. For strawberries, the thinnest tablets are suitable, growing after swelling up to 5-6 cm, no more.

You can use purchased soil for seedlings or make a soil mixture for growing strawberries yourself. It should be very light and porous, not retain moisture, consist of two parts of sand, one part of humus and soddy soil. Any land, store-bought or prepared with your own hands, must be disinfected. This can be done with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, spilling all the soil well with it, or warm it up in the oven for two hours. An excellent way to stimulate the right microclimate in the soil for a long time will be the colonization of good microorganisms acquired in the form of biological preparations.

You can grow strawberries in any available containers - containers for cakes and cookies, disposable cups, cut plastic bottles. It is enough that they are no deeper than 6-7 cm. The inner walls of the container must also be treated with a disinfectant solution, dried well before filling with earth, and holes pierced in several places. The container should be filled with soil, leaving a few centimeters to the upper edge of the side, so that the seedlings sprouted under the shelter have enough space.

Seed preparation

You can grow strawberries from seeds throughout the year, but if you want to get a harvest from it already in June best option sowing - mid-January, all of February. Then by May she will gain sufficient green mass, she will form a strong root system, capable of transferring transplantation to open ground, to give the first harvest. With the planting of remontant varieties, you can wait until March, when daylight hours become longer. By August, young strawberries will already be able to pamper with the first berries.

Regarding whether or not to soak the planting material, experienced gardeners have different opinions. Some advise keeping the seeds for a couple of days in a humid environment or in a growth stimulator, while others consider this activity useless. If the seeds are fresh, collected by hand, or there is no doubt about the integrity of their supplier, then it may not be worth it to germinate them. Otherwise, it is better to lay them out on a damp cloth to make sure that they are swollen, able to sprout.

Sowing

The most popular way to plant small seeds, whether strawberry, petunia, lobelia or any other similar plants, is to sow them in the snow. Snow is laid out on the surface of the prepared soil with a layer of 2-3 cm. Tiny strawberry seeds will be very clearly visible on it. Having melted, the snow will not only saturate the soil with the moisture necessary for the first time, but will also gently draw the seeds into it. After sowing, seeds should be stratified, accelerating their germination. To do this, just place the container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Sown strawberry seeds do not need to be sprinkled with earth. The container with them should be covered with glass, film or a lid and placed on a windowsill, isolated from direct sunlight. Strawberries need light from the first days of planting. Under the conditions of a micro-greenhouse under a lid, it will remain until the first shoots. It does not need to be watered - the moisture from the melted snow will last for a long time if the shelter turned out to be quite airtight. The first shoots of strawberries may appear in one and a half to two weeks, but some varieties germinate only after three weeks.

strawberry seedling care

During the growing period of strawberries, drops of water will appear on the lid of the container, indicating its tightness. They must be removed with clean rags or paper towels. To air the sprouts, the time when moisture is removed from the lid is enough. If, with proper care, drops do not form, then this indicates the drying of the soil. You can spray its surface with a spray bottle or add water to a pre-prepared pan. The cover can be completely removed when 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings. After that, it is necessary to carefully monitor the sufficient amount of moisture in the soil.

Lighting

The winter months may not provide the plants with enough light outside the window. Therefore, any of them, planted for seedlings in January-February, needs additional illumination. To do this, you can use special structures with a fluorescent lamp or ordinary table lamps on the extreme case. But strawberries must receive their ten hours of light. Otherwise, it will stretch out, become frail and painful.

Watering

Seedlings should be watered as needed when upper layer soil will be dry to the touch. It is better to pour water into the pan to avoid the formation of mold on the surface, infection of seedlings with a black leg. If you need to water the surface of the soil, then this should be done carefully, from a spoon or syringe, so that the tender sprouts are not washed off with a stream of water.

top dressing

In the early days, seedlings have enough nutrients in the soil. The first top dressing necessary for the successful cultivation of strawberries from seeds is made after the formation of 2-3 permanent leaves on the sprouts. You can take complex fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, enriched with trace elements. You need to repeat feeding every week and a half. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the instructions that come with fertilizers so that their overabundance does not provoke the active growth of greenery to the detriment of the fruits.

If there is fungus or mold

In conditions high humidity and temperatures created under the lid of the seedling container, growing strawberries from seeds can be difficult due to the possibility of green, black spots of fungus or white mold on the surface of the soil. All these troubles must be removed, the earth must be disinfected with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or a purchased antifungal agent. Watering in the pan significantly reduces the possibility of plaque on the soil surface. Well in the prevention of contamination of the soil helps regular ventilation.

picking

If the plants are planted in one common container, then after 3-4 weeks they need to be planted in separate containers, dive. This will help the root system to develop better, and the above-ground part will provide additional volume for growth.

Dive strawberries should be after the formation of 3-4 pairs of leaves on the sprout. To do this, carefully water the soil, allow it to absorb water and become more pliable when removing sprouts. You can put a clod of earth with seedlings on the table and, pouring water, wash off all the soil from the roots. If the plants are intertwined with roots, then you should carefully unravel them with a toothpick, slowly and without trying to stretch the sprouts to the sides with your hands. A damaged root system will lead to disease, stunted growth, or death of the plant.

Before planting in the bottom of the pot, you need to make several holes to drain excess moisture. Seedlings of strawberries are planted in pots with soil, the composition of which is closest to the ground, where it will be planted on permanent place. It also needs to be watered well before planting, make a notch with your finger, plant a stalk in it. When transplanting, it is very important not to fall asleep the heart from which the leaves grow.

Seedling hardening

A few days before planting in open ground, strawberry seedlings must be hardened off. To do this, it must be taken out into the street for several minutes, increasing the hardening period every day. The air temperature for hardening should not be below zero.

Usually garden strawberries propagated by mustache or division of the bush. But there comes a time when these methods become ineffective, since all accumulated diseases are transmitted along with the vegetative planting material. the best way to update the varietal fund and get rid of diseases will be sowing strawberries for seedlings. In 2018, it is not too late to do this, and with the help of our detailed instructions you will get a harvest of large fragrant berries in a few months.

Where to get seeds

Seeds are best selected in a specialized store, preferring those with a shelf life of more than 1 year. Popular among gardeners remontant strawberry, fruiting until frost - Alpine, Ali Baba, Baron Solimakher. These varieties do not produce mustaches and are subsequently easily propagated by dividing the bush.

Of the large-fruited species, the following varieties will be advised to the buyer:

Queen Elizabeth;
Picnic;
Moscow debut;
Alexandria.

Large-fruited strawberries are propagated both by dividing the bush and by the mustache. Apart from routine care the gardener will have to regularly remove unnecessary layering.

You can grow strawberries from seeds at home in another way - take ripe berries from healthy bushes and a sharp knife, cut off the top thin layer of pulp. The cut pulp with seeds is laid out on napkins and left for several days in a dry, warm place. During this time, the seeds dry out, and they can be easily peeled off by rubbing between the fingers. Dried seeds are laid out in paper bags, the variety and collection dates are signed and stored in a cool, dry place.

Strawberries are actually a strongly overgrown receptacle, and the seeds are nuts.

Landing dates in 2018

To get strong seedlings, gardeners go to different tricks. Many of them believe that planting strawberries with seeds must be done according to the lunar calendar. In 2018 better days are considered:

January 27, 28 and 29;
from 21 to 28 February;
from 21 to 26 March.

On these days, the growing moon passes through the constellations of Gemini, Cancer, Taurus, Leo. This time is considered the most favorable for sowing seeds for seedlings.

Diving seedlings of strawberries, which are grown from seeds, in 2018 should be dealt with:

from 10 to 12 and from 20 to 26 March;
from 17 to 22 and from 25 to 28 April.

Ready seedlings are planted on the beds in the following numbers:

from 18 to 22 and from 25 to 28 April;
from 17 to 19, 22, from 25 to 27 May;
15, from 20 to 24 June;
from 18 to 22 and from 25 to 26 July.

The timing of planting strawberries for seedlings depends on your region. In the south of Russia, seedlings are planted in open ground in the second and third decade of May, in the northern regions in early June. Seedlings by this time should have a developed root system and several leaves. Strawberry bushes usually reach this size in 3 months.

On the days of the full moon, new moon, as well as 2 days before them and after sowing seeds, it is not recommended to do so. It is better to devote this time to choosing seeds, preparing the land, watering or loosening the sprouted seedlings.

What kind of soil do strawberries need

The preparation of the soil mixture for sowing strawberries with seeds for seedlings should be taken carefully, since the seeds of this crop are small and germinate for a long time. Experts offer several options for soil mixture:

high-moor peat, biohumus and sand in a ratio of 3:1:1;
turf or leaf land, peat and sand - 2: 1: 1;
mature compost and sand - 5:3.

Some gardeners replace compound soil with peat tablets or use one specifically designed for growing berry seedlings. There are no uniform requirements for its composition, but when choosing, it should be remembered that the soil should be light, breathable, but nutritious.

Before planting strawberries with seeds for seedlings, the ground must be disinfected. Do this in one of the following ways:

scatter on a baking sheet and heat in the oven at a temperature of 40-45 ° C for 1-2 hours;
shed the earth with 1% (bright pink) solution of potassium permanganate;
freeze in bags or buckets all winter on the street.

The last option is for residents northern regions with long cold winters.

After disinfection, the soil needs to be revived - filled with useful microflora. To do this, it is shed to a wet state with one of the biological products - "", "Shine", "Fitosporin". Then the soil is left in a warm place for several days so that the microorganisms begin to develop. At the same time, the earth mixture will dry to a free-flowing state and will be ready for sowing strawberries for seedlings in 2018.

Preparing seeds for sowing

Before planting, strawberry seeds must be kept for several hours in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, then they are thoroughly washed and treated with a growth stimulator - Epin, Kornevin, Energen. Next, the seeds need to be hardened. To do this, they are placed in several layers of gauze soaked in a stimulant and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator overnight, covered with a lid or film. During the day, the container with seeds is rearranged on a windowsill with a temperature of 18–20 ° C. Hardening is carried out for 3 days, no longer, as they may begin to germinate.

Hardening can be replaced by stratification. After it, the seeds germinate twice as fast. It is most convenient to carry out the stratification of strawberries after sowing. Boxes with sown strawberries are placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for the entire period. Periodically, containers are opened for ventilation. Soil moisture needs to be monitored. In cold regions, containers are left outside under the snow.

For large-fruited strawberries, the stratification period should be at least 2–2.5 months.

At the end of the stratification, the boxes are brought into a warm room.

How to sow strawberries and care for them

At the bottom of the seedling containers, a layer of drainage is poured, prepared soil is poured and slightly crushed with his hands. Then snow is placed on the surface of the earth and seeds are laid on top. When the snow melts, it pulls them to the right depth. The container is covered with glass or film with holes for ventilation and placed on the windowsill, keeping the temperature at 18–20 ° C.

The first shoots of stratified seeds appear on the 5-6th day, mass shoots begin in two weeks. After the sprouts appear, the air temperature is reduced to 15–17 ° C so that they do not stretch. Shelter from the boxes is removed after the appearance of two or three leaves. The soil is kept moist but not wet.

In order not to flood weak sprouts, water it very carefully - into the grooves between the sprouts with a pipette or a syringe without a needle. Shoots are kept in a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight.

The grown seedlings dive in the phase of 3–4 leaves. If the seedlings are strongly drawn out, this procedure can be carried out twice. Picking strengthens the root system, while the growth of the aerial part slows down somewhat. Dive is carried out as follows:

the ground is pre-watered;
the seedling is carefully removed and the central root is pinched;
a new glass is filled with earth and a recess is made in the middle;
carefully lower the seedling, straightening the roots and compressing it with earth from all sides.
after diving, the seedlings are watered.

When planting strawberries, it is necessary to ensure that the growth point is above ground level.

After picking, strawberry bushes are fed with complex fertilizers containing a lot of phosphorus, potassium and very little nitrogen. Top dressing is carried out 1 time in two weeks. Most convenient to use special formulations for seedlings that contain the necessary trace elements.

Landing rules in open ground

Two weeks before planting in open ground, seedlings are hardened. To do this, it is taken out to cool rooms, first for 1-2 hours, then the time is increased. Before planting, seedlings are left on a balcony or veranda at temperatures up to 10 ° C around the clock.

Seedlings are planted in the ground warmed up to 12 ° C, making sure that the growth point remains above the soil level. If during planting there is clear sunny weather, at first the seedlings are shaded. Further care consists of, loosening and top dressing.

Strawberries sown in this way for seedlings in 2018 are propagated in the next few years by mustache or by dividing the bush. Then, in order to improve the planting material, it is advisable to sow strawberries again with seeds.

Planting strawberries on video

If you still have any questions about growing strawberries from seeds, watch the video, which describes and shows in detail the entire process from choosing seeds to planting seedlings in the ground.

Even experienced gardeners find it difficult to plant strawberries with seeds for seedlings. The berry does not rise for a long time, it is very capricious, and with an excess or even a short-term lack of moisture, it immediately dies. But her breeding seed way sometimes necessary. What are the benefits of growing strawberries from seed, and what challenges will you have to overcome?

What are the benefits?

Obtaining strawberry seedlings from seeds is a business full of trouble. But unlike the reproduction of berries vegetatively it has other advantages:

You cannot get strawberry seedlings from seeds from hybrid varieties. Hybrids can only be propagated vegetatively. But then it will no longer be possible to get non-infected plants. If you like the hybrid, but the berry needs improvement, it is better to repurchase the seed material in the store.

Choose a variety

Before planting strawberry seeds for seedlings, you need to choose a variety. The berry can be cultivated in unprotected soil or all year round in a greenhouse. But pay attention: if you planted a hybrid strawberry variety, then do not harvest seeds from the resulting crop, but propagate only with a mustache. Otherwise, the varietal qualities of the plant will be lost.

Greenhouse varieties

Remontants are suitable for year-round fruiting. Their peculiarity is as follows: a bush from which a crop has already been obtained (up to 1000 berries) must be immediately replaced with a new one. Seedlings for this are grown from seeds or daughter rosettes. Below we have summarized the most common greenhouse varieties strawberries.

Popular strawberry varieties for greenhouse cultivation
Variety	Ripening period	Variety Description
Alba	Early	Berry bushes of regular size with not big amount leaves produce large fruits. Each strawberry has the correct shape of a cone and is colored in the color of venous blood. Fruits differ in excellent transportability. The variety is excellent disease resistant.
Octave	Early	A high yield consists only of large fruits, distinguished by juiciness and bright aroma. Octave is a transportable variety.
Sonata	Early	Sonata is not subject to infection powdery mildew, she is not afraid of earthen mites and rot. Bright red fruits have a sweet taste, the pulp is juicy - a real delicacy. Berries are transportable.
Joseph Mohammed	Early	The bushes have a very developed root system. Fruits are oval, dark red. Joseph Mohammed is distinguished by a guaranteed harvest and one-time ripening of berries.
Honey	mid-early	The ground part of the plant is highly developed. Bushes produce large conical fruits with a large base. The berries have a pronounced strawberry aroma, the taste is sweet and sour. The weak point is the root system, which is prone to many diseases.
Darenka	Early	Tall, upright bushes bear fruit profusely. Sweet berries have a strawberry flavor.
Baron Solemacher	Early	Each sprawling bush produces about 500 g of berries per season. The fruits are small, smell like strawberries. Suitable for jam.

Pollination in the greenhouse is done artificially, so cross-pollination is almost impossible. This means that you can safely sow strawberry seeds for seedlings. You will definitely get the same result as on the package with the seed. This is especially true for large-fruited strawberry varieties.

Varieties for open ground

Selection of strawberry varieties for cultivation in open field mainly depends on the time when you want to harvest, and on what you need it for at all. To enjoy fresh berries, take early varieties fruiting already in May. Medium varieties (ripening in June) and late varieties (harvested in the second half of summer) are suitable for harvesting.

The best varieties of strawberries for growing outdoors
Variety	Ripening period	Variety Description
Dawn	Early	Berry bushes are tall. They produce medium sized ovoid fruits. The color is bright red. Productivity - up to 2 kg / m 2.
Rusapovka	Early	Large bushes provide a yield of 1.7 kg / m 2 per season. The berries are juicy and fragrant, the taste is sweet and sour. They have a spherical shape, the color is red. The surface is just strewn with seeds.
Gum	Early	Ribbed berries of bright red color are very large. The flesh is pink, and its taste is sweet and sour. Productivity - over 2 kg / m 2. Poorly transportable.
Pocahontas	Average	Productivity is about 2 kg/m 2 . The berries are painted in red-orange color, the pulp is sweet and sour, orange. Good for transportation. Disadvantage - berries not correct form at the beginning of fruiting and too small - at the end.
festival	Average	The fruits are very large, but the last fruits weigh less than 10 g. They are oval and flattened. The pulp is very juicy and tender. Productivity - about 1.8 kg / m 2.
Mascot	Average	Berries of the correct form of the small sizes. The top is lighter than the bottom of the fruit. The sepal does not come off the base badly. Productivity - 2 kg / m 2.
Zengana	Middle late	The berries are wedge-shaped and dark red in color. The flesh is cherry-colored, very aromatic and has a sweet and sour taste. Productivity - from 2 kg / m 2.

When to sow?

At year-round cultivation berries, it doesn’t matter when planting strawberry seeds for seedlings: plants are constantly being replaced. Therefore, it is worth considering options for cultivating strawberry crops in the open field:

Landing in late February or early March;
Late spring or early summer.

If the cultivation of strawberry seedlings from seeds in an apartment began in the spring, then you will receive a harvest this year. But it is important to transplant seedlings into open ground before the onset of drought, otherwise the bushes will not take root well. Summer seedlings are planted in autumn, and the harvest will be obtained on next year. If the seedlings did not have time to grow before winter, then they are left to winter in pots.

Preparation of seed material for sowing

Before planting strawberry seeds for seedlings, you need to stratify them in one of the following ways:

Place the seed material in the refrigerator 14 days before sowing. Then remove and leave by the battery for 12 hours;
Moisten a dense natural cloth with water, put the seeds between two layers. Send to refrigerator compartment for 14 days. Try to moisturize as needed;
This method of stratification is combined with landing. It is enough to plant the seeds in a layer of snow 2 cm thick, which lies on top of the soil in a pot.

Gardeners believe that strawberry seeds are too small to germinate before planting. But if you missed the moment when it is best to sow strawberry seeds for seedlings, then soak them. To do this, put the seeds on toilet paper, moisten them with melted water. Put in a warm and bright place until pecking. Moisturize daily.

Substrate preparation

Before sowing strawberry seeds for seedlings, prepare the soil mixture:

Wood ash, compost or humus, earth from the garden (1:6:6);
Sand, peat, vermiculite (3:3:4);
Biohumus (humus) with coconut fiber in half;
Humus, garden soil and sand (1:1:3);
Humus and sand (5:3);
Peat, fine sand, soddy ground (1:1:2).

Sift the mixture and roast it in a pan or hold it over steam for 30 minutes. Then water the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate: seedlings of strawberries with seeds require complete disinfection. Otherwise, the plants will die or be very weak. Treatment with antiseptics and fungicides is desirable.

Sowing

To plant strawberry seeds for seedlings, you will need a wet sharpened match or a toothpick:

Pour the pot with soil warm water;
Make small indentations with a match in increments of 10-15 mm;
Place 2-3 seeds in each hole so that at least one plant sprouts;
Powder lightly with earth.

good seedling from strawberry seeds at home is obtained if, after sowing, close the container plastic wrap. It is placed in a bright and warm place. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is constantly moistened (although water hardly leaves it under the film). Germination time (always uneven) depends on the variety and lasts for a period of 2-4 weeks after planting.

How to care?

Now about how to grow seedlings of strawberries from seeds healthy and strong. In pursuing this goal, it must be remembered that various plants need different conditions content. For strawberries, at first, you need to observe the thermal regime. The air temperature should be in the range of +20 ... +25 degrees Celsius.

Watering

It is impossible to water seedlings of strawberries from seeds, since their root is very weak. To moisten the soil, you need a sprayer. You need to do this as needed: watch that the top layer of the earth is constantly wet, but not flooded. If it dries out, then the seedlings quickly die, if it is too watery, the risk of developing a fungus increases.

You will not go wrong if you plant strawberry seeds for seedlings in plastic containers with a lid with holes made in it. Watch for condensation on it. If it is missing, urgently moisten the soil. If there is so much that it drips from the lid, ventilate the container. If it is present, but not dripping, there is enough moisture.

Lighting

When growing seedlings from strawberry seeds at home, it is necessary to artificially regulate daylight hours. Natural light in spring is not enough, and strong seedlings simply need it for 12 hours. Illuminate plants with fluorescent or LED lamps. In low light, the seedlings lengthen and turn pale.

picking

Picking seedlings of strawberries from seeds is carried out when a pair of true leaves form in the seedlings:

Moisten the soil with seedlings;
Loosen the ground around the roots so that the plants can be easily removed;
Pull the seedling by the cotyledon leaves without touching the stem. It is easily damaged, and the plant is doomed to death;
Pin the center spine.

Transplant strawberry seedlings obtained from seeds into separate boxes in 10 cm increments or into individual cups, after making indentations. Use the same soil mixture that was prepared for seed germination. Pour the earthen ball with a spoon. Make sure that the growing point is not clogged with soil.

top dressing

If you dream of growing strawberry seedlings from seeds High Quality, after picking seedlings, start feeding them with a frequency of once every 10 days. To do this, water the plants with fertilizers with a small amount of nitrogen (no more than 10%) and a high content of iron (about 2%). Water-soluble dressings "Mortar" and iron chelate are ideal.

Preparing for planting in unprotected soil or greenhouse

With a sharp change in conditions, seedlings of strawberries grown by seeds will experience stress. But it can be minimized by preparing the plants. To do this, harden the seedlings a week before transplanting to a permanent place. If a minimum temperature does not fall beyond 10 degrees, then you can leave the strawberries on the balcony.

No need to think that strawberry seedlings intended for a greenhouse do not need hardening. Plants need to get used to the sunlight. To do this, take the seedlings outside on hot days.

Growing strawberries from seeds is not easy, but exciting. It is important to follow a few rules in order to get a flowering and fruiting bush.

Growing strawberries from seeds

For a long time, strawberries migrated from gardens and orchards to window sills and loggias in ordinary apartments. Most often, remontant garden strawberries are grown at home (often called strawberries). You can choose plants for almost every taste and color, and seedlings are obtained by growing from seeds.

Seeds from proven agricultural firms can be bought in stores. Another option is to collect seeds from the fruits of your beds, however, after free pollination between several varieties, you will get a hybrid plant with special qualities.

Strawberries are often planted in planters or hanging pots.

Seed collection

You can collect strawberry seeds only from varietal bushes, not from hybrids. Otherwise, your young plants will not retain maternal qualities.

Video: how to collect strawberry seeds

Soil preparation for seedlings

Most often, strawberry seedlings are grown at home, much less often - right in the garden. Seedlings appear small and tender, in open ground they may die.

For strawberry seedlings, the easiest way is to use ready-made universal soil from the store. Usually there is no pathogenic microflora in it, and the composition of the soil is quite suitable for growing strawberries.

There are special soil mixtures for strawberries on sale, but you can use universal peat-based soils.

Proportions of components for self-study soil:

1/2 of the sod land;
1/4 of peat;
1/4 of the sand.

It is useful to add a little to this mixture wood ash and biohumus. The soil must be steamed in an oven or on a steam bath for about 30 minutes to destroy weed seeds, eggs or insect larvae. Sterile soil must be “rested” for about 3 weeks, it is advisable to add beneficial bacteria to it by watering it with Baikal EM1 or Radiance preparations.

Baikal EM1 contains beneficial bacteria that help the plant absorb nutrients from the ground

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Strawberry seeds are tight. On the bags, manufacturers indicate the germination period from 1 week to 2 months. This process can be accelerated by pre-soaking or stratifying the seeds.

The seeds collected or bought in the store are soaked in rain or melted snow water for 3 days. You will have to change the water 2 times a day. During this time, the seeds will swell. They are laid out in plates on wet paper napkins, wrapped in plastic bag and place in a warm place, making sure that the napkins do not dry out. Hatching seeds can be planted in individual peat tablets or in rows in boxes.

When germinating, the seeds must be constantly in a humid environment.

Stratification is the long-term keeping of plant seeds at a certain temperature to accelerate their germination. Strawberry seeds can be stratified both soaked and already planted in boxes.

Stratification of soaked seeds

Wet seeds are poured into small saucers and covered with a film, then they are placed in a cool place with a temperature of 2–4 0 C, ideally a refrigerator shelf. Once a week, the seeds need to be checked: ventilate and add water if necessary. Seeds can be stratified in this state from 3 weeks to 3 months.

For stratification, the seeds are placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

Stratification of planted seeds

The planted seeds are moistened and, covered with a film, are also put in the refrigerator. The box can be kept at a temperature of 2–4 0 C for about a month, and then transferred to a warm place. Usually after this shoots appear together.

Seed sparging

Another way to increase seed germination is bubbling. This is a process in which the seeds are in warm water with air. The simplest scheme is to lower the tube from the aquarium compressor into a liter jar of warm melt (rain) water. Seeds should be placed in a gauze bag or poured immediately into a jar (if one variety), turn on the compressor for 2 days. It is important that the water temperature is around 25°C. After bubbling, the seeds are slightly dried and sown as usual.

Hard-to-growth strawberry seeds are barbored for 2 days

Sowing seeds in boxes

You can sow strawberries both in boxes and in peat tablets.

Sowing seeds in the snow

Sowing seeds in the snow is one of the most simple ways getting seedlings.

When the snow melts, the seeds are slightly pulled into the soil, it is no longer necessary to sprinkle them.

When to sow strawberries

Strawberries from seeds require warmth and sun. In addition, it grows for a long time - it needs about 5 months before the development of flower stalks, so it should be sown in February. Good seedlings of strawberries will grow only at an air temperature of more than 23 0 С and a day length of 12–14 hours. Therefore, in February, she definitely needs lighting with phytolamps. If there are no such conditions, then plant strawberries in March - April.

Care after landing

Boxes with planted strawberries should be kept in warm place The seeds can germinate both in the light and in the dark. Check and ventilate the greenhouses at least once a day, removing drops of condensate from the film. Depending on the freshness of the seeds, the manufacturer and pre-treatment, seedlings may appear in a week or a month.

Seedling care

After the appearance of the first shoots, the boxes must be transferred to the brightest place, under the phytolamps or to the south window. It is better not to remove the film yet - too dry air of the apartment will destroy young tender sprouts in a few hours. Therefore, it is better to take trays with transparent lids. You need to water from a syringe or spraying with a spray bottle, because young seedlings only slightly cling to the soil with roots.

Strawberry shoots are very tender, it is better to leave shelter for the first time

Seedling picking

It is advisable to pick seedlings after 2-3 true leaves appear. A week before this, seedlings need to be accustomed to room air, for this, the greenhouse lid begins to open slightly for a few minutes or leaving a slightly noticeable crack. Every day the gap is increased and then the cover is removed completely. Be sure to watch the soil: if it dries out, the plants will die.

Seedlings ready for picking should have 2-3 true leaves.

For pickled seedlings, individual pots with a volume of 200–250 ml are suitable, you can take universal soil, but add 0.5 l of biohumus to 10 liters of substrate.

The first time after picking, you need to carefully monitor the seedlings. If the room is dry and hot, it is necessary to spray the leaves with warm water.

To relieve stress in plants, you can add HB 101 to the water (1 drop per 0.5 l).

Seedling feeding

2 weeks after picking, you can start feeding strawberry seedlings. At this time, the seedlings should actively grow, so it is better to use fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen. Can be used both liquid and water-soluble dry mineral fertilizers. Frequency of use - 1 time in 7-10 days.

Fasco - fertilizer for young plants, nitrogen predominates in the composition

strawberry seedling care

The main care for strawberries before planting in the ground or pots is watering, fertilizing, spraying.

Strawberries should be watered so that the earthen ball does not dry out, but is not waterlogged either. You need to focus on the condition of the soil. For example, seedlings standing on a southern window under the sun's rays will dry out much more often than seedlings standing under lamps in the back of the room.
Periodically, plants need to be sprayed with water to maintain optimal humidity, because in dry and hot air, strawberries can be attacked by pests: spider mite, thrips.
It is not advisable to loosen the seedlings, since the strawberry root system is superficial and can be damaged.
Day length for better growth should be about 12-14 hours.

Good strawberry seedlings have powerful leaves and developed roots.

Planting seedlings in open ground

3-4 months after germination, seedlings can be planted in open ground or in a permanent place in a flowerpot - for indoor cultivation. Plants are planted in open ground from mid-May, or after the temperature during the day is about 20 ° C and at night 15 ° C. open air(first for 0.5 hours during the day, then for 1–1.5 hours, then left for a longer period).

If it is not possible to harden, then strawberry seedlings can be placed in a greenhouse or greenhouse. It is very important to harden plants that have grown without access to sunlight. After planting unprepared seedlings in the garden, tender leaves can burn under the bright sun.

Transplant process:

Seedlings are well watered before planting in the ground.
On the prepared bed, holes are made at a distance of 30 to 50 cm between plants (depending on the variety).
Seedlings are taken out of the pot. If the roots are twisted into a spiral, then they need to be straightened, and if they are too long, they should be cut.
A lump is placed in the hole so that the plant is at the same level of the ground as in the pot.
The earth around the strawberries is crushed and watered.

It is not for nothing that garden strawberries are called strawberries. To prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, the bushes are mulched with chopped straw. It also helps keep the crop from rot.

Video: planting seedlings of strawberries in the ground

Alternative ways to plant strawberry seeds

In addition to planting in pots, strawberry seeds can be grown in peat tablets and in a snail.

Video: planting strawberries in a snail

Video: planting strawberries in peat tablets

What varieties are best to take for growing from seeds

Before the start of the season, ask yourself the question: where and why will you plant strawberries.

container growing at home or on the balcony: you will need remontant varieties and hybrids with different size berries;
cultivation in open ground: varieties or hybrids of ordinary large-fruited strawberries;
growing in a greenhouse for sale: varieties of large-fruited high-yielding remontant strawberries.

In addition, there are varieties that do not produce whiskers or give them little. Some varieties bear fruit not only on mother plant, but also on rosettes formed on the mustache.

Alpine varieties and hybrids of strawberries

Alpine varieties are different small berry, predominantly with the aroma of wild strawberries. Most often - beardless, but varieties have appeared that give a small amount of whiskers. Alpine strawberry blooms and bears fruit all season, it is more adapted to shady places and is successfully grown on loggias, balconies, apartments, as well as on Alpine rollercoaster in open ground.

Table: popular varieties of alpine strawberries

Name	Description
Alexandria	The mass of the berry is from 3 to 5 g, very fragrant, juicy, dark red. The bushes are dense, not giving a mustache.
Ali Baba	Beardless strawberries, berries are fragrant, can grow up to 5 g, the color is bright pink. The plant is wide due to the ability to quickly bush.
Baron Solemacher	Bushes up to 20 cm high, not giving a mustache. The berry is sweet, fragrant, weighing up to 4 g.
Snow White	Strawberries with an unusual color of berries - white, with the smell and taste of pineapple. Bushes do not give mustaches, densely leafy, but small.
forest fairy tale	A medium-sized shrub that does not give a mustache. very different abundant flowering and fruitfulness. Berries weight - 4 g. Color - red.
Ruyana	A beardless strawberry with tall peduncles. Berries from 2 to 5 g, red, fragrant, very tasty.
White Soul	Compact shrub, no more than 15 cm high, with creamy white conical berries. Ripe fruits have a pineapple flavor.
alpine dream	Suitable for both open ground and pot culture. Very early, bears fruit throughout the warm season. The berries are fragrant, rather large, up to 3 cm in diameter.
Regina	Early remontant strawberry, ready to bear fruit all summer without a break. From one bush you can get up to 500 berries.
yellow miracle	Remontant variety of beardless strawberry. Berries yellow color, fragrant, weighing up to 3 g. The bushes are very compact, no more than 25 cm high.
Fragrant Surprise	Under this name, a mixture of beardless remontant varieties of alpine strawberries is sold. In a pack, both red and white berries come across, not inferior to each other in taste.

Photo gallery: Alpine strawberry varieties

Strawberry Yellow Miracle - remontant variety beardless strawberries Alexandria strawberries have juicy fragrant berries Strawberry Regina bears fruit all summer Strawberry bush Baron Solemacher does not give whiskers Strawberries Snow White has an unusual berry color for culture - white Strawberry Ruyan is distinguished by high peduncles

Varieties of ampelous strawberries

Ampel strawberries are distinguished by the presence of a mustache. In addition, each tendril is immediately ready to bear fruit. If you plant such strawberries in a high hanging planter, then hanging mustaches, with berries and flowers, give the impression of curly. Such varieties are very demanding on nutrition, especially in a limited pot space - they need fertile soil and constant feeding.

Many varieties of ampelous strawberries have pink petals, which is very unusual and beautiful.

Table: varieties of ampel remontant strawberries

Name	Description
Elizabeth, Elizabeth 2	A remontant variety, the bush is very large, wide, can grow up to 50 cm in open ground. The berries are large, up to 40 g, red. The variety is productive.
Temptation F1	Strawberries of Italian selection, remontant, large-fruited, can be grown in the open and closed ground. The berries are large, weighing up to 35 g, tasty. During the season, the bush gives up to 20 peduncles, from one plant at good conditions collect up to 1.5 kg of berries.
Flavor of Summer F1	Remontant variety with a large number of mustaches that bloom even without rooting. A bush up to 30 cm high. Up to 1.3 kg of berries can be collected per season from a plant.

Large-fruited strawberries

Garden large-fruited strawberries (strawberries) are also perfectly grown from seed. Many varieties are brought from abroad, but it is important to take into account their winter hardiness.

Table: varieties of large-fruited strawberries for growing from seeds

Name	Description
Dawn	Remontant variety of beardless strawberry. Berries can grow up to 18 g, beautiful egg-shaped. Bush up to 25 cm high, insensitive to changes in the length of daylight hours.
Gigantella	Dutch variety with huge, up to 100 g, berries. The color of the fruit is bright scarlet, the taste is sweet, with hints of pineapple. The bush is large, reaching a height of 50 cm. Not remontant.
Holiday	American variety, spreading bushes, berries up to 30 g, round-conical shape, red. Not repairable.
Cinderella	Variety of domestic selection, bush compact, vigorous, fruitful. The first berries are up to 40 g, the next - up to 23 g. The variety is not remontant.
Lyubasha	Large-fruited remontant strawberry. Bushes are powerful, sprawling. Berries are conical in shape, weighing up to 22 g. Sweet, red. Mustache does not give.
Tristar	Remontant large-fruited variety. Berries weighing up to 30 g, cone-shaped, dark red, very sweet. The bush is compact. Requires a lot of food.
Yoke	Remontant variety of large-fruited beardless strawberries. Bush up to 20 cm high, compact. Berries up to 25 g, red, sweet, fragrant.
Geneva	Large-fruited remontant strawberry, forms little whiskers. The first berries can weigh up to 50 g.
Zephyr	Non-remontant high-yielding variety, bred in Denmark. Differs in tall and strong peduncles that do not lie on the ground under the weight of berries. Average weight fruit - 20 g, but there are larger ones. One adult bush per season is able to produce 1 kg of berries.
Lizonka F1	Large-fruited, early, high-yielding hybrid. Flowers of an unusual bright pink color, berries are red, weighing up to 30 g.
Scarlet Light F1	A large-fruited remontant strawberry that can be grown in a pot. Plant height up to 35 cm. Red berries with nutmeg aroma.

Photo gallery: varieties of large-fruited strawberries grown from seeds

Dawn - remontant strawberry Gigantella gives berries of 100 g
The first strawberries Geneve gain weight of 50 g One adult bush of strawberries Zephyr can produce 1 kg of berries per season Strawberry Tristar requires quality nutrition

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