Alpine Strawberries?

[broadway]

Hi Folks,

I've tried these the last couple of years and failed miserably with germination!

Not sure what I’m doing wrong, tried in heated and unheated prop to no avail.

Any advice greatly appreciated, not just on germination but views on yield, taste etc?

[Matt94]

ive been thinking about growing some from seed, all i can say about them is what they lack in size they make up for it in flavour? you wont be disapointed!

[Alison]

I've got some on the go at the moment as I like to replace my stock every few years. I sow a small pinch of seeds in mid jan in an unheated propogator in the utility room (coolish). They tend to come through after about a week / 10 days. Currently they are on the window ledge in 1.5" newspaper pots. When the little seedlings get bigger I will prick out to one per pot and then pot on into 3" pots before planting out in window boxes in about May. As I sowed early they will fruit this year. I pick daily and put them in my lunchbox with natural yoghurt and eat on cereal. Not as juicy as commercial big strawberries but a lovely taste. Somebody I know made jam with them a few years ago which was very good.

[FB.]

I must admit that the seeds from my own alpines don't germinate very well either (the strawberries that the slugs got first end up as seed donors!).
I only have a couple of alpines which were raised from seed. Most of my alpine stock has been from splitting older clumps.

If you have a friend with some alpines, see if they'll let you split a few pieces off their crowns.

[Piggle]

I must say I found germination easy - I got some bog standard ones from T&M , I didn't put them in the propogater as far as I can remember and they just came up.

Expecting fruit this year from them. I send you some runners but I think I've only got about 8 plants so you'd be waiting a while.

Where is your seed from?

[Alison]

The ones I've grown in the past don't produce runners but do self seed somewhat.

[solway cropper]

You need to give them a cold spell before they'll germinate. I put mine in the freezer for two weeks then sowed them in a tray in the heated propagator. They seem to have nearly all germinated but they are tiny. Probably the smallest seedlings I've ever seen!

[Ananke]

I grew some from seed about 3 years ago, they germinated quite well but if I remember rightly, they took a wee while to come up.

Mine don't produce runners either, self seed or just divide the plants as they get bigger.

They produce for months, right into November.

[broadway]

Thanks for all your replies folks.

I must say I found germination easy - I got some bog standard ones from T&M , I didn't put them in the propogater as far as I can remember and they just came up.

Expecting fruit this year from them. I send you some runners but I think I've only got about 8 plants so you'd be waiting a while.

Where is your seed from?

t&m! Thanks for the offer Piggle re runners but I'm not giving up yet:-)

You need to give them a cold spell before they'll germinate. I put mine in the freezer for two weeks then sowed them in a tray in the heated propagator. They seem to have nearly all germinated but they are tiny. Probably the smallest seedlings I've ever seen!

Thanks SC, now in the freezer.

[Alison]

You need to give them a cold spell before they'll germinate. I put mine in the freezer for two weeks then sowed them in a tray in the heated propagator. They seem to have nearly all germinated but they are tiny. Probably the smallest seedlings I've ever seen!

Never needed to do that at all but you are right, the initial seedings are tiny and they take forever to get going then suddenly romp off and start flowering.

[Piggle]

actually I checked my pack last night and they are actually woodland strawberries which I guess aren't quite the same.

[Alison]

Dunno, probably remarkably similar if not the same though.

[Piggle]

You're probably right although alpine and woodland are very different climates...... what's in a name though.

[jdlondon]

I sowed one lot in a coir-based compost indoors, and that failed completely. Then I read it needs cold and more compact ground, so I sowed some in normal compost and kept outside and those germinated within a week. Didn't freeze seeds beforehand but I'm guessing keeping it outside gives a similar effect.

[Sarico]

i bought some alpine strawberry seeds and i already put in a tiny propagator.. i hope they will germinate... i will post back if i will have any good news or not....