How to Germinate Strawberry Seeds

Strawberries are one of the most delicious, nutritious and popular summer fruits around. Germinating strawberry seeds is a relatively straightforward process and when carried out under optimal conditions can produce strawberry plants of excellent quality. The key factor in successful germination is the cooling or winterizing of the seeds before planting. Use a household freezer and airtight plastic containers to winterize your seeds.

Strawberry seeds Freezer 2 Ziploc bags or a small plastic airtight container Rich well drained soil Seedling trays or pots Misting bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase strawberry seed through a reputable seed retailer or extract seeds from your favorite strawberry plants. Allow the strawberries to dry out and then rub the seeds off while holding over a clean bowl or piece of wax paper. You can also press the fresh ripe berries through a fine metal kitchen sieve and then wash the seeds that remain in the sieve bowl. Be sure the seeds are completely dry before placing them into plastic container for their winterizing in the freezer.
- 2
  Winterize the dry strawberry seeds by keeping the airtight plastic container in the freezer for at least 4 weeks and up to four months. Remove the seeds from their cold storage and plant immediately.
- 3
  Prepare a seedling tray or pots with at least 2 inches of rich well drained and moist soil with a bit of peat moss mixed in. Plan to sow 6 to 10 seeds per pot.
- 4
  Bury the seeds under a covering layer of peat moss approximately 1/8-inch thick .Mist over the peat moss cover with water to set. Leave in an indirectly lit location to sprout.
- 5
  Transplant developed seedlings with at least four to six leaves to larger pots or to outdoor containers or beds, keeping soil level consistent on the main stem and keeping well watered.

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