Alpine Strawberries

[cazp]

I want to plant some Alpine strawberries as groundcover as they are pretty plants plus I heard that their tiny fruits are a delight. I want to use them to surround some minarette trees.

I have a packet of seeds (Alpine Strawberry "Regina") which suggest sowing up to March but I may sow them today... even though I am a bit late should I expect some nice cover and perhaps a bit of fruit this year? and roughly what size would each plant get to?

Thanks!

[Alison]

I always sow mine in late Jan as I find you need an early sowing to guarantee fruit that year. That said, you should still be OK go grow them but you'll probably need to wait until next year for the lovely little fruits. I have some in window boxes about 6" apart which works for me. Mine don't produce runners but do self seed.

[solway cropper]

The seed needs to go through a cold period in order to germinate. I put mine in a bag in the freezer for two weeks before sowing in february. It's also very fine so I just sprinkled it on the surface of the compost and ended up with hundreds of little plants. The pic show some I pricked out last week.

[Shadylane]

The seed needs to go through a cold period in order to germinate.

Mine didn't

[cazp]

Thanks for the advice.
I sowed mine this evening but I didnt freeze them so will have to wait and see if anything happens - any fruit I get will be a bonus!

[Alison]

The seed needs to go through a cold period in order to germinate. I put mine in a bag in the freezer for two weeks before sowing in february. It's also very fine so I just sprinkled it on the surface of the compost and ended up with hundreds of little plants. The pic show some I pricked out last week.

Mine didn't

Mine didn't either and never have done. In fact I've done them in a heated propogator in the past and have had really good germination. The only time I struggled was with very old seed which was no longer viable and some germinated even then.

[Feral007]

I've been looking at these as well for ground covers. I'm thinking of using them between the fruit trees. I'm just hoping that the ground covers don't encourage the snakes. More ground cover should = less mowing. But if it also = more snakes then it will be mowed ground covers. I'm desperate to make less mowing around the house, and have useful plants as well, or at least pleasant looking and pleasant smelling herbs.

[solway cropper]

That's interesting about them not needing a cold period. So why did the seed packet say they did??

It's really annoying when you try something new and follow the instructions to the letter and then find it was a load of bo***cks. Still, they are thriving so I suppose I shouldn't grumble.

[smc999]

I grew some a few years back and even though I had a great crop the fruits themselves were spongy and tasteless. I've not bothered with them since.

[Madasafish]

Yes: I either found them:
largeish and tasteless
or tasty but so small not worth growing.

Gave up.