Latin Fragaria vesca Numerous hybrids exist listed as F. Timing Sow indoors in the winter. An earlier start may result in berries the first year. Start any time between December and the beginning of February.
After that time, they will still produce plants, but berries may not be produced during the first season. Transplant out at least 3 weeks after last frost.
Strawberry seeds will germinate at any time of the year if some simple steps are taken. Starting Germination is the trickiest aspect to growing strawberries. Be patient, and try the tricks below.
Tuck strawberry seed packet inside a sealed plastic bag or airtight container and place in the refrigerator freezer not deep freeze for weeks. After removing the bag or container, do not break the seal until it and its living contents have reached room temperature. This may take several hours. Strawberries are incredibly easy to grow, with sweet, juicy fruits that are hard to resist. If you plant several varieties, you can have harvests from early summer through into autumn.
They take up little space, so are great in containers and even hanging baskets. Sow either in autumn or spring, into small pots or trays filled with John Innes No. Ensure the compost is fine and firmed prior to sowing. Cover the pot or tray with a clear plastic bag or sheet of glass to maintain humidity and shade until germination.
Autumn-sown seeds should be overwintered in a coldframe. As soon as the seedlings have two true leaves and are big enough to handle, prick them out 2. Water new plants frequently while they are establishing, and water all plants during dry periods through the growing season.
Try to avoid wetting the crown or fruit, as this can promote fungal diseases. In early spring, feed plants growing in the ground with a high potassium general fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4. Feed those in containers and grow bags with a high potassium liquid feed, such as tomato feed, weekly or fortnightly throughout the growing season.
Keep strawberry beds weed free. To reduce the need for weeding, you can plant through slits in weed-suppressing membrane or polythene sheeting. Strawberries are easy to grow in containers. Peat-free multi-purpose compost is a good choice. Suitable containers include grow bags, hanging baskets, troughs and tubs. Although traditional strawberry pots look attractive, they make it difficult to maintain healthy, productive plants. Growing in pots avoids the build-up of soil problems, but vine weevil control is often essential.
This also helps to keep fruit clean and suppress weeds. Some gardeners prefer to use barley straw as it is soft, but wheat straw is fine to use too. Netting will be needed to prevent birds stripping the fruit, but remove after harvesting to allow birds to feed on any remaining pests. If squirrels are a problem, protect fruit with wire mesh.
Plant spare runners young plants that develop as offshoots from the parent into any gaps in the row or use them to replace old plants. Remove any unwanted runners.
Some gardeners prefer a continuous row in the second and third year, rather than spaced plants. The overall crop may be higher, but the quality of fruits is not as good Whichever method you use, keep a clear gap between the rows to give you access for weeding and harvesting. With summer-fruiting strawberries, once cropping has finished, cut off the old leaves about 10cm 4in above the crown to allow fresh leaves to develop.
Also remove the straw mulch, fibre mat or black polythene sheeting, to prevent a build-up of pests and diseases. A bed of strawberries usually lasts up to four years if planted into well-drained, fertile soil that is free from troublesome weeds. To avoid disease build-up, choose a different plot and replant strawberries every three years.
Strawberries can be propagated from runners young plants that develop as offshoots from the parent in late summer, but no later than early autumn:. Seed-raised cultivars are available, but are not recommended, except for alpine strawberries see Sow , above. Strawberries grown in a heated greenhouse can produce fruit as early as mid-March, although for high quality, well-coloured fruit it is better to aim for harvest in April. Bring container plants into the greenhouse in mid-December, but give no heat or water until the first new leaves appear, except for spraying with a fine mist of water on sunny days.
Keep the atmosphere moist and restrict ventilation to sunny days. Increase watering as the foliage develops. Too much heat will result in foliage at the expense of flowers. Hand-pollinate daily with a soft paintbrush to ensure a good crop of well-shaped fruits. For the highest quality fruit, thin the flowers by removing the smallest ones straight after the petals have fallen, leaving eight to ten fruits to mature. Reduce ventilation and keep the atmosphere thoroughly moist at all times until ripening begins.
Making sure your soil is completely clear of weeds is crucial if you want high yields. The less competition there is for nutrients from the soil, the greater the chance your strawberries have of growing big and juicy.
However, we advise you to identify the weeds before pulling them. You can use seeds to grow strawberries , although this may take nearly two years to produce fruit and hence, not the preferred method for most gardeners.
However, if you are trying to hybridize strawberries, concerned about spreading disease from your current plants, or want to experiment, you can give it a shot. You should cold-stratify for three or four weeks before sowing the seeds. Plant them in early spring.
If you buy plants from a grower or nursery, they are often available in the fall. In more mild climates, they can be planted in fall as it will lead them to become well-established and increase the chances of them bearing fruit the next spring or summer, depending on their variety. However, pinching off the blossoms will allow plants to develop runners and fill in the bed for a much bigger harvest the following year.
As mentioned earlier, strawberries are perennial plants. They are naturally cold, and tough, and able to live amongst slightly freezing temperatures. Thus, if your area has mild winters, not much care and maintenance is needed. However, in areas where the temperature drops to the low twenties, strawberries will be in their dormant stage.
In such cases, we advise you to arrange for some winter protection. Here are some tips:. Spring is the ideal time for planting strawberries , around six weeks before the last spring frost.
Remember to pinch off blossoms; otherwise, the plants will not develop fully and future crops will be much smaller in size. If your variety is one of the more vigorous types, you should also pinch off about half the runners. This leads to a much better crop the next year as energy is channeled directly to the mother plant.
How to store strawberries? You can store berries in the refrigerator for days without washing them. If you want your strawberry plants to grow swiftly, the key is not to rush the process. They have a season, and that means that they will come to fruit towards the middle or end of winter if you live in a hot climate. You will get them for a longer period that can last well into the summer in milder climates. I am Elsa, love gardening.
I spent lots of time with plants, flowers, it gives me lots of happiness. I am sharing all the practical tips on how to grow various plants, flower plants, vegetables in the garden. Read more about me. At A Glance - Here's what we'll cover: show.
How long does it take for a strawberry plant to produce fruit? Timing Phase 1 — Leaves and Flowers. Phase 2 — Flowers to Fruit. Phase 3 — Pollination to New Fruit. Phase 4 — Red Strawberries. How long does it take for a strawberry plant to produce fruit from seed?
Varieties of Strawberries. Recommended Varieties. When to plant strawberries. Growing conditions.
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