Strawberry seed saving

[Shadylane]

I've saved some seed from some of the Mara des bois strawberry plants I have in pots on the patio. I've got some runners but once again they haven't been to prolific with them. BUT, aren't they a hybrid variety? Does this mean I'm wasting my time growing them from the saved seed? Has anyone tried this?

[Two_Sheds]

Why bother with seed when you have runners? confused dot com

[Shadylane]

Because, as I said they haven't been all that prolific with runners. Some didn't run at all. Same last year, just didn't send many.

[quark1]

I picked a supermarket variety El Santa 3yrs back which is now available to buy as plants from many diy/garden centres.

I chose it because it was not a bad flavour and considering how far it had to travel it was probably picked 'before' it was at its finest point of ripeness.

It took the 3rd year before it produced fruit - this yr - and it was great! I had a free voucher for 6 from a newspaper offer to supplement the variety. Only 3 buckets from the original lot survived - but I shall be able to split this year. Many runners.

If you like a particular variety simply peel off the seeds as strips and sun dry naturally. Would advise a few weeks in dry state before you try and germinate.

Be patient as the seedlings are terribly weedy looking until they take off. But you patience will be rewarded - and hopefully and you chose will produce strong runners which will give you earlier, and more certain, results - year on year.

[Shadylane]

Thanks Quark, I've got the seeds dried and ready so I may give it a go.

[quark1]

Don't worry about picking out indiv seeds - just cut a small section containing 3-4 seeds and plunge that in the compost and you'll see results over the winter.