freezing alpine seeds?!

[crazii_c]

ive just sowed some alpine strawberry seeds today and after looking at some articles on the net im a bit confused. ive read that you should freeze your seeds for 3-4weeks before sowing them . ive not done this. i was wondering if anyone else has frozen the seeds before sowing? do you think mine will grow fine without doing this as it seems like a weird thing to do.

cheers in advance!

[crazii_c]

sorry guys, can this please be moved to feeling fruity!

[Shadylane]

I think normal strawberries benefit from a period of stratification (cold treatment) which is supposed to break their dormancy or something. I sowed some alpines a few months back, no cold treatment and they germinated just fine. The latest ones seem to be taking their sweet time though, unless it's my impatience.

[Two_Sheds]

I've never chilled strawb seed - my alpines came from one of those seed sticks you get in a matchbook.

Goodness knows how old they were, but they grew just fine, stuck in the ground.

(I do however, have some Welsh Poppy in the fridge atm. OH hasn't yet noticed there is a plant pot full of soil next to his Bombardier)

[crazii_c]

thats good then, i was worried mine might not germinate without the freezing period. looks like im in for a long wait then, coz ive read strawberrys take a while to grow from seed.

[Shadylane]

I don't think alpine's are that bad. I know mine didn't take that long at all. At least to germinate at least. They stay seedlings for ages apparently and then go mad once the weather warms up.

[Scottishnewbie]

i sowed a few at the beginning of january and, as the seed was quite old, sowed the entire packet....BIG MISTAKE!! they all germinated and now my tray is packed full! still tiny though, too small to prick out so i'm wiaitng patiently till they get a see bit bigger then will be in there - anyone want several hundred alpine strwberry seedlings!!!!!

[BUFFS]

i found you dont need to freeze your alpine strawbrry seeds and once they start cropping the flavour is better than their big brothers,even with the dodgy weather we get here we had a superb crop that seemed to go on for months,so you carry on and enjoy them to the full,they are worth the effort..

[crazii_c]

i sowed a few at the beginning of january and, as the seed was quite old, sowed the entire packet....BIG MISTAKE!! they all germinated and now my tray is packed full!

lol easily done i'll learn from you and give my seeds a good chance at germinating before sowing extra

[Cazzy]

I read about freezing them just recently but the ones I sowed year before last germinated no problem, albeit slowly. My biggest surprise was how long they fruit for, I was still picking them well into the autumn.

Unfortunately none of them made it home into some nice jam as i'd hoped.......they are growing right next to the patio area on the plot (where my chair sits) and I can't help myself :s