Starting strawberries from seed?

[shangrilyla]

Hi,

A few weeks ago I picked up some strawberry seeds from Wilkinson to start in the windowsill. Only half of the seeds sprouted - which was okay, but then the seedlings I had left gradually started to die off. They would bend over and then shrivel from the top down. I have one seedling left that looks pretty strong - it's a lot bigger than the others (but still not very big) and two others that may or may not make it.

Is there something I'm doing wrong? Should I have used a different kind of potting mix? Was I just unlucky?

If anyone else has started strawberries from seed I've love to hear what your experiences were.

Thanks!

[andyturner1978]

Shangrilya......

I can't help but have had exactly the same problem with my alpine strawberry seeds. I sowed mine in John Innes seed compost, covered in cling and left on the window cill. I wonder if its just been a little too cold?

Sure someone will be along soon to help.

[Aberdeenplotter]

sounds a bit like damping off to me. Try resowing in fresh compost and be ready to treat with bordeaux mixture.

[Alison]

Have never grown proper strawberries from seed as I find runners easier to manage. However have grown alpine ones easily enough. I sow in normal peat free multi purpose compost (use this for everything) in 1.5" newspaper pots in a heated propogator, a pinch of seed per pot. When they come through I take out the propogator and grow on the window ledge with no heat. When the seedlings look a bit sturdy I'll pull out all but the strongest one and pot on into 3" pots and on from them. They take a long while to get going and then suddenly leap forward.

[buzzingtalk]

do you start them up now then? ive got some alpine strab seeds, i dont have a heated propogator though...

[shangrilyla]

I think it was damping off... there was a bit of white mold growing around the edges of the pot. I probably should have sterilized my soil, but ah well. I sprayed them with some diluted chamomile tea and the mold seems to have died back. I guess I'll have to be vigilant and spray with the tea every week or so when I try again.

[Shadylane]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you need go to such effort to avoid damping off. Simply cut back on the watering. Also if you use clingfilm remove it as soon as they're through. I grew alpines and I didn't use a propagator, I think I did use clingfilm though. Oh and yes you can start them now. They take ages to grow into a decent sized plant though so prepared to be patient

[chillifan]

Hi
I've got alpine strawberries that I started off from seed. I just used multi purpose compost and sowed the seeds in a plastic grape container. They are very hardy and survived all the snow we had this past winter. I have also recently sowed a strawberry seed variety called 'festival' from shop brought strawberries. The strawberries were orinally from Egypt - I hope they do ok in our climate.

[Two_Sheds]

Simply cut back on the watering.

I agree, and I also think Feb is too dark and cold for them (it's ideal for mould though )

Start again next month when the days are longer & warmer

[BUFFS]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you need go to such effort to avoid damping off. Simply cut back on the watering. Also if you use clingfilm remove it as soon as they're through. I grew alpines and I didn't use a propagator, I think I did use clingfilm though. Oh and yes you can start them now. They take ages to grow into a decent sized plant though so prepared to be patient

keep them barely moist until weather really warms up,sown now you should get them into the garden/pots and by july/august start getting a good crop,thats how i did mine and you will find that they have a better taste than their big brothers...enjoy..and if they will grow up here you should have no problems..