Strawberrys from seed...

[greenpunkbo]

Hey, this is my first post so very sorry if its been asked a million times!

i have some strawberry seeds someone gave to me later last year, and im wondering if i can still germinate them and get something from them?

i cant say what variety they are as they are just in the white sealed packet, im able to put them in a plastic greenhouse if this is of benefit. I have also heard about freezing them when not sowing in sept, is this worth it?

cheers
Bo

[Sanjo]

Sorry Greenpunkbo, can't help very much with the strawberry question except to say I sowed some a couple of months ago and they are very small although healthy looking. I've not heard about freezing the seed though. Why not try a few just to see if they germinate.
Welcome to the vine by the way.

[greenpunkbo]

yeah i suppose it wouldnt hurt! i may do that, and will post the results

thanks!

[Maccabee]

I can't offer much help either but to say i'm doing the same and growing some from seed this year too. I sowed them some time last month in a seed tray and they're tiny but the true leaves are starting to come through.

I'm guessing by freezing them they meant preserving them? I've never heard of freezing them but i have heard of people storing seed in the fridge. I'd just (and have) sow them now.

[chris]

I grew alpines from seed. I found that just scattering them on the surface of damp MPC worked better, than covering them with compost/grit/whatever.

They do seem to self-seed from fallen fruit A LOt too. I have them everywhere in my back garden - constantly ripping them out. In gravel, between cracks in slabs, soil, grass etc etc

[Two_Sheds]

I'm guessing by freezing them they meant preserving them?

the correct name is stratifying, to mimic winter dormancy conditions

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eed_22685.html

[Sarico]

i just left them outside in febbrary and it worked like been in the freezer but when i start to see the first seeds germinate i brought them inside.... my now are 1 cm tall and i don't know if the wil fruit this year.. some other grapes told me that they seem to not grow fast but after they will grow fast..
plus even if you don't get any fruit i think before frost come back in autumn they may already developed a good root system so they will overwinter and next year you will have some strawberry already... anyway i'm a newbie so wait for expert to see if they agree with me...

[Normans Mum]

I've sown some alpine strawberry seeds. It did say to freeze them for about 10 days before sowing. Just scattered the seed on damp compost and put them in my propogator... They have germinated but are SO tiny it's almost untrue. Goodness knows when they'll be big enough to pot on. :/

[Sarico]

I've sown some alpine strawberry seeds. It did say to freeze them for about 10 days before sowing. Just scattered the seed on damp compost and put them in my propogator... They have germinated but are SO tiny it's almost untrue. Goodness knows when they'll be big enough to pot on. :/

i did mine when they were 1cm big but i did 1 seedling in each seed module and then when they are bigger i will pot them...

[redser]

I sowed alpines in early January and potted them up into root trainers when they were a couple of centimetres high. Seemed to sit there forever but eventually took off. Moved them to the tunnel in early March and then planted them out into the ground a couple of weeks ago. They had a great root ball thanks to the trainers. They are flying with lots of new shoots coming all the time. Have 32 of them and hope they will work as ground cover around the fruit bushes. Early start seems to be the key. I didn't have to freeze them, just sowed them on the top of seed compost and kept it slightly moist and covered with cling film. Hoping I get fruit this summer.