Berries from seed?

[broadway]

Evening folks

Any views, successes, failures?

[veggiechicken]

What sort of berries, Danny?

Strawberries, raspberries, elderberries...................

[chrisdb]

Strawberries from seed are relatively easy, and I've also grown Japanese wineberries from seed. Raspberries or blackberries I wouldn't bother with, since it's easy to get hold of a plant and once you've got one you've got a thousand.

[Can the Man]

Never considered it, always just bought or encouraged some runner plants

[broadway]

What sort of berries, Danny?

Strawberries, raspberries, elderberries...................

Hi VG,

Was thinking raspberries and blackberries initially

[nickdub]

Hi VG,

Was thinking raspberries and blackberries initially

they can be done - a few things against it, mostly 1) you are unlikely to grow anything better than what is already available 2) the time from seed sowing to fruiting can be several years 3) the cost of buying a plant which is ready to crop next year is only a few pounds

Having said all that this is the way experimental growers produce new commercial varieties - plenty of detailed info on the internet as to how to proceed - breaking the dormancy of seeds is the first main hurdle.

PS I have grown strawberries from seed ( commercial packet) and they cropped the following year no problem - thread on the 'Vine somewhere about it.

[Can the Man]

Rasberry and blackberry I’d just go with the plants, take too long from seed to fruiting. You can get some very cheap plants in Lidl and ALDI at certain times, I started my rasberry from a single plant and now have a hedge with about 14 new plants, all off shoots from my original plant.

[veggiechicken]

For raspberries and blackberries I'd go with plants too. Its quicker and the end product is more predictable.
I've tried growing blueberries, huckleberries, strawberries and kiwiberries from seed - still waiting to pick some - although, I'm not even sure where the seedlings are now.
Cuttings is the best way to propagate (for me) - especially if you can scrounge the cuttings to start you off.
Jostaberries, gooseberries and all the currants are very easy.

[Speed Gardener]

I once had three or four seedlings pop up around a white currant plant. I saved them and have grown them on as I thought they might turn out to be something new, seeing as there are red and pink current plants adjacent, but they're just white currants, same as the parent plant..

[nickdub]

I have an apple tree among some shrubs in front of my cottage which must have grown from a pip. It's about 12' high now and had some fruit last year but the birds got to them before me. We'll see next year may be what its like - probably rubbish, but you never know :-) A bit like being given a lottery ticket.

[burnie]

I got some alpine strawberry seeds from a magazine, not expecting anything, I am surprised to say they are everywhere in the garden. I planted half a dozen in between some crazy paving round the greenhouse and I am now finding them everywhere, the grandkids love them especially the white ones, whilst in the greenhouse earlier sowing my onion and leek seeds I noticed the crazy things are in flower just now!!

[Mamzie]

I got some alpine strawberry seeds from a magazine, not expecting anything, I am surprised to say they are everywhere in the garden. I planted half a dozen in between some crazy paving round the greenhouse and I am now finding them everywhere, the grandkids love them especially the white ones, whilst in the greenhouse earlier sowing my onion and leek seeds I noticed the crazy things are in flower just now!!

Our apline strawberries were teeny tiny plants for monthes last year but seem to be very hardy. They are finally larger now and some here are also in flower