How to grow strawberries at home from seeds?

Growing strawberries at home is a laborious process. But only by planting the seedlings on their own, any summer resident can be sure of its quality and that the desired plant variety will grow. To obtain a large harvest of fragrant berries, you must familiarize yourself with the rules for choosing soil for planting and planting material, with preparing them for planting, with the conditions of keeping, care and transplanting seedlings to a permanent place.

Sowing dates

Sowing is necessary depending on the desired timing of the first harvest. If you plant strawberry seeds in February, then the bushes will bear fruit in the summer. When planting them in April, the bushes will only grow by autumn, but they will have time to get stronger and will delight with abundant fruiting next year.

In addition, the presence of additional illumination of the seedlings affects the time of planting the seeds of the plant. If the balcony is equipped with good lighting, then the sowing process can begin even in December. But in the absence of lamps, it is advisable to sow in March.

Seed selection

Strawberry kernels can be prepared by yourself or purchased at a gardening store. At home, from a large berry, you need to cut the pulp with seeds in strips and dry. Then put it in paper bags.

When buying seed, you should carefully study the information on the package.

• A well-known and proven manufacturer will not sell low-quality goods.
• The variety must be suitable for growing in the region.
• Must remain at least 1 year before the expiration date.
• The choice of variety depends on the purpose of the cultivation. If breeding is intended for your own consumption, then it is better to prepare the seeds yourself. You can choose non-hybrid varieties: they have excellent taste properties. When growing strawberries for sale, you should pay attention to hybrid varieties. Their benefits include high yields and disease resistance.

It is interesting!

Some varieties have been bred that can bear fruit on the balcony all year round. However, they require proper care.

Soil preparation

The market for products for gardeners is quite wide: everyone can choose the substrate to their liking. Ready-made universal mixtures are sold that are suitable for the cultivation of any plants; you can purchase specialized soil suitable only for a specific culture.

Advice

Garden strawberries are capricious, so it is advisable to take special soil for growing seedlings from seeds.

Experienced gardeners, taking into account long-term observations, skillfully make the substrate on their own. It is important that it is light, crumbly and simple.

The most common formulations are:

• coarse sand and vermicompost in equal parts, 3 parts of non-acidic peat;
• sand - 2 parts, 1 part each of peat and sod land;
• sand - 3 parts, soil from the garden and humus - 1 part each.

It is recommended to add a little wood ash and manure to the second composition for growing on the balcony.

In the soil mixture from the garden, there may be pest larvae. To disinfect the ground, you can use one of the following methods:

• warm up in the microwave for 5 minutes;
• steam in a water bath;
• place in the oven for 30 minutes at 150 ° C;
• process with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

After the performed manipulations, the soil should be placed in a warm place for 15-10 days.

Selection of capacity

For growing seedlings on the balcony, containers can also be made independently or bought.

What can be used as a container for planting strawberry crops?

• Plastic cups, cardboard packaging for juices or glasses for sour cream - when choosing such a container, it is important to make small holes from the bottom so that the water from irrigation does not stagnate.
• Plastic boxes - a kind of mini-greenhouses are obtained. Arcs can be cut out of a plastic bottle, and a plastic wrap can be pulled over them.
• Peat tablets are very popular, convenient for growing strawberries from seeds, picking and planting in a permanent place.
• Food containers - it is advisable to select containers with a transparent top. So a container with such a lid will be used as a miniature greenhouse.

Before starting all the manipulations with planting strawberries, it is important to fill the container with a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes. This will protect against fungal infections.

Preparing seeds for planting

Before sowing seeds on the balcony, they need to be prepared. For the prevention of diseases, the seed must be disinfected: soak in a weak (1%) solution of potassium permanganate. You can use solutions of boric acid, hydrogen peroxide, copper sulfate or aloe juice.

Strawberry seeds should be wrapped in a small piece of cloth, wrapped with thread and placed in a solution prepared in advance for 15 minutes. Then remove the bag and rinse it with clean water several times.

The next important stage in seed preparation is stratification. It can be done in two ways.

1. Sowing in the snow. Fill the container with a substrate, cover it with snow on top: a layer of 1-2 cm in a compacted form. Sow the seed on the snow, cover with foil and refrigerate. The snow will melt and the grains will sink into the ground.
2. Refrigerated stratification. Place the seeds on a damp cloth, wrap in a plastic bag, and leave in the refrigerator for 7 days. At temperatures from +4 to + 5 ° C, the process of awakening and preparation for further growth starts.

Stratification is needed to ensure quality and simultaneous emergence.

Sowing in a container

To grow strawberries on the balcony, you need to fill a suitable container with soil, level, slightly compact, moisten, make small grooves. Using a sharpened match, tweezers or a toothpick, it is necessary to spread the plant seeds at a distance of 2 cm from each other. They should be pressed a little against the substrate, but not covered with them from above.

Advice

For convenience, when planting different varieties of planting material in one container, you can attach the name of the variety in front of each groove.

After transferring the seeds to the ground, it must be moistened with a spray bottle, covered with plastic wrap or closed with a container lid. Make sure to make small holes on the surface of the container. It is advisable to place the container in a warm and lighted place, but not on the window sill itself - the grains will dry on it without having time to germinate.

Landing in peat tablets

Cultivating strawberries on the balcony in peat tablets is considered the most convenient way. It is worth considering the process of planting material in special washers, inside which is placed compressed peat enriched with fertilizers.

1. Place washers in a container, pour well with water, let it swell.
2. Place 2-3 seeds in the recess in the tablet, do not sprinkle with soil.
3. Cover with foil, put in a lighted and warm place.

The first shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks.

Seedling care

When the first shoots appear, they should be ventilated daily and moistened with a spray bottle. After a month, the cover must be completely removed. After three leaves grow, the seedlings must be dived. The main thing for seedlings on the balcony is sufficient watering.

When the bushes of the plant consist of 6-7 leaves, the seedlings can be transplanted into open ground. The process must necessarily take place on a cloudy day.

Strawberries are a useful and valuable berry. Growing plant bushes on the balcony is troublesome, but you can be sure of the quality of the resulting seedlings.

When breeding strawberries, it is important to follow the recommendations described above, and gradually adhere to the rules for planting the crop.

The success of growing any crop in the garden, in the garden or at home depends on the correctly selected and prepared planting material. This is especially important for strawberries, because it is very difficult to germinate seedlings from its seeds. Our article will tell you about how strawberries are grown from seeds at home.

Sowing dates

If you are going to grow strawberry bushes on your windowsill, you must at the very beginning decide on the timing of sowing. It should be noted that the timing of the sowing of the seed is determined by the plant variety. Today, strawberries and strawberries are represented by a wide variety of varieties, among which there are both remontant and large-fruited species.

The way they are planted is no different from each other. However, many people prefer to choose remontant varieties for the following reasons:

• during the growing season, the bushes are capable of producing crops several times;
• abundant fruiting;
• better seed germination;
• affordable cost of planting material.

Often, sowing seeds for home cultivation of strawberries is carried out in late February or early March. However, earlier sowing of the seed is also quite acceptable. But in this case, the planting will need to be additionally illuminated with phytolamps. With backlight, planting of seed at home can be carried out at any time of the year. Without backlighting, sowing seeds for seedlings before March does not make sense.

Growing Secrets Video

From the video you will learn how to properly grow a berry from seeds.

Seed preparation

After you have decided on the strawberry variety and the timing of planting seeds to obtain seedlings, you can proceed to the preparatory stage. Strawberry seeds, like most other crops, must be prepared for planting. Such preparation will allow to achieve significantly better germination.

It should be noted that the seed material of large-fruited varieties of strawberries and strawberries germinates very slowly. Therefore, in order to speed up the process of germination of seeds, a preparation procedure is carried out in order to accelerate the growth of sprouts. This procedure involves the following manipulations:

• first, the seeds should be soaked. For this, a plastic transparent container is used, which is equipped with a lid. But you will also need rags or cotton pads;
• make holes in the container lid with a needle. They are needed for plant respiration;
• then moisten the discs with water and place them in one layer at the bottom of the container. When all the seeds are laid out, cover them on top with a second layer of wet cotton pads or a cloth moistened with water;
• if you plan to plant different varieties of strawberries, then they will need to be signed so as not to get confused in the future;
• the container with seeds is closed with a lid with holes and placed in a warm place. The seeds must stay here for two days;
• then the container for carrying out the stratification process is sent to the refrigerator for two weeks. The seeds must be moistened periodically. Ventilation of the container should be carried out every day.

However, such an algorithm for preparing strawberry seeds for planting can hardly be called universal. There are several preparation options. For example, some experts advise soaking the seed for three days in natural (snow or rain) water. After that, the seeds are laid out on a layer of filter paper and slightly moistened. They are then transferred to a plastic bag. For convenience, the seeds can be laid out first on a plate, and only then placed in a bag with it. Further, the planting material is exposed to a warm place. However, do not place them in direct sunlight. When the first shoots hatch, it is recommended to transfer them to a container with soil. To do this, use matches or toothpicks.

Many experts advise be sure to carry out stratification, since thanks to it you can achieve simultaneous and high-quality germination.

Some budding gardeners often wonder how to collect seeds for strawberry seedlings. The easiest way is to buy planting material from a garden store. Neighbors or friends can share the necessary seeds. In addition, they can be collected by hand in the process of growing crops in the open field.

Land preparation

The second stage of preparation for growing seedlings from strawberry seeds is soil preparation. For this berry crop, a soil with the following characteristics is suitable:

• crumbly;
• easy;
• simple;
• without fertilizers.

According to experts, the best solution in this case would be a soil mixture prepared from forest and vegetable garden land. Be sure to add sand to it.

There are the following potting mixes suitable for growing strawberry bushes:

• the first version of the soil contains the following components: coarse sand, vermicompost and non-acidic peat. Components should be taken in a ratio of 1: 1: 3;
• the soil of the second option should contain components such as peat, sand and turf. Here the components are taken in a 1: 1: 2 ratio.

Some experienced gardeners recommend adding some wood ash and rotted manure to the soil.

Do-it-yourself soil must be warmed up. For this, the soil is placed in the oven for 15-20 minutes. You can do with the usual steaming of the earth with hot steam. For this, a saucepan is suitable in which water is boiling. This procedure is carried out because young strawberry seedlings are very vulnerable. And at the same time they like to parasitize various insect pests, the larvae of which can be in the taken garden or forest land. For the appearance of beneficial microorganisms in the prepared soil, the calcined earth should be allowed to lie down for two to three weeks. During this time period, the seeds selected for planting will just have time to go through the stratification process.

Sowing in a container

After the soil has been properly prepared, it is poured into a container. This is one of the most effective ways to grow strawberry bushes at home. Using this container, seeds from the refrigerator can be planted in the soil after two weeks. Landing in containers looks like this:

• the selected container should be filled with earth. The soil must be slightly compacted and well watered. For watering, it is better to use a spray bottle;
• then the seeds should be carefully spread on the ground. It is recommended to lay them out with tweezers, a sharpened match or a toothpick. Seeds need to be pressed a little to the ground, but you should not cover them with earth, since they germinate well under the influence of light;
• then close the container with a lid with holes and place it in a bright and warm place. Do not place the container on a sunny windowsill. Otherwise, the seed will dry out quickly and will not have time to germinate.

The first time, until the first shoots appear, it is better not to open the lid.This will create a warm and humid microclimate in which water will condense on the lid and drip back into the ground, thereby watering the plantings.

Please note that you need to close the container with a transparent lid. Through it, it will be easier for light to penetrate into the container. In addition, the transparent lid will allow you to control the processes taking place inside the container.

It should be noted that in this case, seed stratification can be carried out directly in the soil. For this, the container is not completely filled with wet soil. 2-3 free centimeters should remain on top. Put snow on top of the ground and press it. Put the previously soaked seeds on the snow and close the lid. In this form, the container is sent to the refrigerator for two weeks.

Instead of a container, strawberries can be grown at home in wooden crates. In this case, a small box is filled with soil. Then it is leveled and small furrows are formed. We plant seeds in them in increments of 2 centimeters. When planting seeds of different varieties, you need to sow them in such a way that one variety is in the same furrow. In this case, it is necessary to make a beacon opposite each such furrow, where to indicate the name of the variety.

After planting the seeds in wooden boxes, they are moistened with a spray bottle and then covered with foil. It should be noted that the optimum temperature for germinating seed is +18 degrees. At higher temperatures, germination of the shoots slows down.

Dive seedlings into separate cups

When cultivating strawberry seedlings at home, you must remember that a pick should be carried out for it. This process is carried out when three true leaves are formed in young seedlings. After their appearance, the plants should be transplanted into separate cups. The diameter of the new container should not be less than 5x5 centimeters. Interestingly, strawberry seedlings will grow worse in such a familiar container as a juice bag than in a plastic cup.

Carrying out a dive into separate cups, before planting the plants, holes should be made in their bottom, as well as drainage should be put. River sand, nutshells or pebbles can act as drainage. After that, only the earth is filled up and young plants are planted. Then we moisten the soil with water and form a small hole in it. We plant young plants in it. At the same time, remember that the heart with leaves must remain above the ground.

It is worth noting that remontant strawberry varieties can be sown 2-3 seeds at a time and not pick.

Sowing in peat tablets

There is a technique by which the strawberry seed can be planted in peat tablets. In this case, one seed is planted in one tablet. But due to the fact that the seeds of this culture do not germinate well, it is recommended to germinate them in a container, and then transplant them into peat tablets. Peat tablets must be filled with water before use. The moisture should be well absorbed.

Peat tablets should be placed in a tray. Any cardboard box can be used. Place the hatched seed into special recesses on the tablet and press it. We put an oilcloth or a cardboard lid on a box or pallet. The entire structure should be placed in a bright and warm place. After that, it remains only to monitor the humidity in the kind of beds. When pills are poured, they are moistened by watering. Do not flood the plantings too much.

Landing in open ground

When the seedlings grow and get stronger, they are transplanted into open ground. Usually, a grown bush can be replanted about 6-7 weeks after the start of growing seedlings. However, in order to increase the adaptive properties of young plants, they must first be hardened. For hardening, the seedlings are taken outside for several hours every day.Plant containers should be placed in the shade.

It is interesting that seedlings grown in early spring, some time after planting in open ground, can form a small crop. You can pick it immediately after the berries turn red.

When growing seedlings in the summer, transplanting into open soil should be carried out at the end of August. From these plants, the harvest can only be obtained next year. But for this, young strawberry bushes must be insulated for the cold season.

Usually, seedlings begin to be planted in a garden or vegetable garden in late spring (in the second half of May) or early summer (throughout June). Planting strawberries in open ground follows the standard scheme. To increase the productivity of plants, experts recommend picking off the first flowers. This will allow young bushes to get stronger, grow leaves, and also lay a bountiful harvest for next year.

To obtain a high-quality harvest for planting strawberry bushes, proper and timely care is required. Without it, plants can suffer from a lack of moisture, various diseases and pests, as well as from an incorrect ratio in the soil of nutrients necessary for the growth and development of bushes.

As you can see, it is not so difficult to grow strawberry seedlings at home. The main thing is to adhere to a step-by-step process, as well as follow all the recommendations of professionals. As a result, you will get healthy and strong bushes, which will give a tasty and bountiful berry harvest next year.

Video "Growing seedlings"

From the video you will learn how to grow strawberry seedlings.

Some hobby gardeners are wondering how to grow strawberries from seeds, which generally requires certain knowledge, without which you will never get a harvest.

In today's article, we will give the information necessary for growing strawberries from seeds, which will be useful to both beginners and experienced gardeners who decide to test their skills in a new path.

When is the best time to grow, sowing dates

Planting strawberry seeds is best in late February or early March. Some gardeners plant seeds at the end of December, which is important for areas with colder climates. Planting seeds at these times will allow the seedlings to grow strong enough for further transplantation into open ground.

Moreover, if you plan to be in a suburban area all summer long, you can plant strawberry seeds in May or June, but in this case, planting seedlings in open ground will take place in the hot summer months, which will require additional care in the form of timely shading and more frequent glaze.

We do not recommend planting strawberry seeds at a later date, since the seedlings will have to be overexposed at home until next season, which is not suitable for all people.

Selection and processing of planting material

Having dealt with the timing of planting seeds at home, you should proceed to the direct selection of these very seeds.

In order to make the right choice, check out the list of the following points:

1. Before purchasing seeds, check with the seller if it is possible to grow them in the conditions of your site (type of soil on your site). The overwhelming number of strawberry varieties grow well and develop in soils of any type, but there are exceptions, which you need to find out about before the direct planting of seeds of a dubious variety;
2. Choose varieties that best suit the climatic conditions in your area. In addition, there are varieties that are resistant to certain diseases, but have a smaller yield, as well as varieties with a larger yield, but are susceptible to disease. Based on this, you should choose exactly the variety of strawberries that is right for you in these matters;
3. Decide in which position you will be growing strawberries.Modern varieties have both horizontally and vertically growing specimens;
4. Decide on the final taste of the berry itself, which can be sweet, tart, sour, as well as banana and pineapple flavors.

The most popular strawberry varieties in the conditions of the CIS countries are the following samples:

1. Gigantella;
2. Masha;
3. Victoria;
4. Gum;
5. Anapolis;
6. Camarose;
7. Regina;
8. Fragora.

Strawberry seeds should be purchased in flower shops, or from trusted breeders of this culture. Often, the seeds from such suppliers are of high quality, as well as good germination. All damaged, underdeveloped and abnormal-looking specimens should be weeded out prior to planting.

We do not recommend using seeds from store-bought strawberries for food, as there is no reliable information as to which variety or hybrid it is, whether it will suit your growing conditions, and whether its seeds will bear fruit.

Having decided on the criteria for choosing seeds, you should talk about their direct preparation, which consists in observing the following points:

1. To improve and accelerate germination, seeds should be soaked in melt or rain water for 2-3 days.
2. The soaked seeds are laid out on a damp cloth and placed in a plastic bag. The package is placed in a warm and bright place, while not allowing direct sunlight, and remains there until the seeds sprout. Check the fabric periodically and dampen it.
3. If desired, before soaking the seeds, they can be treated with phytosporin, which will protect them from possible fungal and bacterial invasions that may occur when planting in open ground.
4. Seeds are germinated at a temperature of + 27-30 degrees. Seedlings are kept at a temperature of + 25-27 degrees.

The use of growth activators in the germination of strawberry seeds is not relevant, since the culture is distinguished by good germination.

For experienced gardeners, seeds can be germinated by the stratification method, when the container with the sown seeds is moistened, covered with cellophane, and placed in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks, then in a warm and bright place, which stimulates them to active growth, and the formation of the strongest seedlings.

Choice of capacity

It is best to plant sprouted strawberry seeds in plastic or wooden boxes, from 50 cm long and 30 cm wide. Also, seeds can be planted in ordinary containers and cups, like seedlings of other plants, but this is important in cases where 2- 3 bushes of this berry, for indoor cultivation.

We advise you to use the black plastic crates that sell fruits and vegetables at major grocery stores. At the bottom of such a box, a plastic film is placed, in which drainage holes are made. The box with the film is placed on a pallet, in which excess liquid will accumulate.

As for the container for planting already sprouted seedlings, here you can use ordinary containers for flowers, as well as deeper plastic cups, but this applies only to those seedlings that will later be transplanted into open ground.

If you plan to grow strawberries using the hydroponic method, special cardboard boxes will be an excellent purchase, which ensure the maximum planting density of this berry, and the ability to collect as large a crop as possible, from the smallest possible area.

Soil preparation

The overwhelming majority of strawberry varieties are unpretentious to the soil.

Despite this, in order to improve the growth rate, development, and overall fruiting, it is recommended to prepare the soil in accordance with the following points:

1. Take 1 piece of turf land.
2. Take 1 part peat.
3. Take 1 part clean coarse river sand.
4. Mix everything until smooth.
5. Put the mass in the stove for 30 minutes, and ignite it at a temperature of +150 degrees in order to destroy all microbes and fungal spores.

You can also sow seeds and grow grown seedlings in soils purchased at a flower shop, for which a fruit and berry soil mixture would be an excellent option.

General rules for sowing seeds

Regardless of which way you grow strawberries, there are general rules for planting seeds, which are listed below:

1. To obtain maximum germination, strawberry seeds should be planted in a warm room, the temperature of which does not fall below +25 degrees.
2. Sprouted seeds are planted in a container with soil, to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
3. Sowing seeds in the soil, which was previously calcined in the oven (relevant for soil taken from nature).
4. Seeds whose seedlings will dive into open ground should be treated with phytosporin, which will protect the root system and sprouts from infection by fungi and bacteria in the first months of growth.
5. It is better to use the seeds of hybrid species, since they are most focused on seed propagation.
6. Sow the germinated seeds, which will greatly increase their germination and significantly reduce the germination time.
7. Seeds can be stratified at will (not recommended for beginners).

Instruction for sowing in a container

Sprouted seeds are most often planted in containers or boxes.

For proper planting of seeds in these containers, adhere to the following points:

1. Take the desired container, the height of which will be at least 10 cm.
2. Treat the container with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, or wipe it with a cloth dampened with alcohol. Dry the container well.
3. Place a plastic bag on the bottom of the container, and punch holes through both the bag and the container itself. In general, if the container is plastic, you can do without cellophane, but if it is wooden, in order to avoid rotting of the bottom, we recommend using a film.
4. Pour the previously prepared soil mixture into the container, the layer thickness of which should be about 7-8 cm.
5. Lightly compact the soil layer and moisten it with a spray bottle.
6. Take the sprouted seeds with tweezers and place them in a container, on top of the moistened soil.
7. Lightly press the seeds against the soil, but do not deepen, and cover them with a layer of soil, the thickness of which should not exceed 5-10 mm. If you are planting seeds that have not sprouted, they should not be covered at all. Non-germinated seeds should be lightly pressed into the soil and left to germinate in a bright and warm place. Place seeds 2.4 cm apart.
8. Place the container in a bright and warm place, periodically spraying the soil with a spray bottle. If you sowed seeds that have not sprouted, you can cover the container with foil before the first sprouts appear. If the seeds were viable, just moisten the soil in time, keeping it moist.

Instructions for sowing in peat tablets

Sowing seeds in peat tablets should be carried out in accordance with the following points:

1. Purchase peat tablets at a flower shop that are approximately 2.4 cm in size.
2. Fill the peat tablets with melt or rain water and let them infuse for a period of 2 days.
3. After the peat tablets have grown in size, place them on a pallet or in a plastic box.
4. In each of the tablets, make a small indentation, and place one seed there, lightly pressing it into the tablet.
5. After all the seeds have settled on the peat tablets, the container is covered with a plastic bag and placed on the windowsill.
6. Spray the peat tablets with a spray bottle periodically to keep them from drying out.
7. After the shoots appear, the film must be removed.
8. Keep the seedlings on the tablets until the first roots appear through it.

Remember, sowing seeds in peat tablets can be done without first germinating them. Otherwise, the peat tablets will have to be left open, which will complicate the process of moistening them.

Picking

If you grow seedlings on peat tablets, after the first roots begin to appear through them, transplant them into a separate container (pots, boxes, cups), observing the distance between the shoots of 3-4 cm.In the case of growing in cups, for each cup plant 1 sprout. Seedlings are planted in a container with soil, the recipe for which we discussed in the middle of the article.

The picking of seedlings into open ground is carried out when it has at least 5 leaves. If you grow seedlings in the traditional way, initially using a container with soil, after the seedlings have 2-3 leaves, transplant them into larger and deeper containers, where they will grow until 5 leaves appear, and then also pick them open priming.

It is necessary to dive strawberry seedlings into prepared beds, located in 2 rows, and having a distance of 30 cm between them.The depth of the beds should be equal to the depth of the container in which the seedlings grew, for example, the glass has a depth of 15 cm, respectively, the bed should have a similar depth, + -1 cm.

Carefully transfer the sprout into the prepared beds, along with the earthen cake on the root system. Cover the planted seedling with earth so that the surface of the seedling soil is not covered with new soil.

After planting the seedlings, water each seedling with 0.5 liters of water diluted with an organic stimulant such as AgriTecno Fertilizantes. After fertilizing the seedlings, the soil around them should be mulched with humus. The mulch layer should not exceed 1 cm.

Remember, if your beds are in direct sunlight, the first few days they should be shaded in the middle of the day, so that the sprouts will smoothly adapt to the new growing area.

Follow-up care

Subsequent care for transplanted seedlings into open ground is reduced to observing the following points:

1. Water regularly, every 2-3 days, depending on weather conditions.
2. Slightly loosen the surface of the soil after watering, preventing it from compacting and settling.
3. Remove weeds.
4. Treat with insecticide if necessary.

As for fertilizers, they are applied only after the first harvest. The best fertilizer for strawberries is considered to be 2 tablespoons of chicken manure, diluted in 10 liters of water. Melon fertilizer is completely natural, and the berries processed with it will be absolutely safe for human consumption.

As the winter season approaches, at the end of September, the bushes are covered with a thin layer of humus, the thickness of which does not exceed 1 cm. The beds are insulated with straw, fallen leaves or sawdust. If there are strong autumn showers in your area, or there is a heavy wind, you can additionally cover the strawberry bushes with a plastic bag, with holes previously made in it for air circulation.

Conclusion

Based on the information in this article, it becomes clear that almost every beginner can germinate, grow and care for strawberry seeds at home, with the desire and hard work. Remember, you can sow and plant strawberries in almost any climatic zone of the CIS countries, which makes it an excellent purchase for any summer resident and gardener!

Tired of buying strawberry seedlings every season or want to tame a new variety that is not yet available in stores? Then you need to know how to grow strawberries from seeds at home and what to do with seedlings before planting in the ground.

Seedlings of garden strawberries from seeds are grown for many reasons. For example, this is the only way to propagate varieties whose bushes do not give a mustache.In addition, this way you can do without buying seedlings of new varieties or get a variety of berries that your neighbors have treated you to.

How to choose strawberry seeds for sowing

There are so many varieties and hybrids of strawberries on the market now that choosing the right one is rather difficult, because each manufacturer promises large, sweet berries, quick ripening and resistance to diseases.

If you are still an inexperienced gardener and do not know what you want, take a look at the following large-fruited varieties garden strawberries (strawberries): Alyonushka, Vima, Kokinskaya early, Ksima, Lord, Moscow delicacy, Fireworks, Festivalnaya, Holiday, Honey.

If you want to grow repair strawberries from seeds, then you will suit: Ali Baba, Baron Solemakher, Seasons, Garland, Yellow miracle, Queen Elizabeth 2, Crimean early.

Pollination is also of great importance in the quality of seedlings. Blooming strawberries should not be allowed to over-dust with berries of a different variety, since the resulting plant will partially or completely lose the initial characteristics of the parent.

Remember that garden strawberry seeds remain viable for 4 years.

You can prepare strawberry seeds for sowing yourself. To do this, you will need to take one of the earliest and largest berries from the bush of the variety you like and carry out a number of manipulations with it.

1. Cut off the top of it and peel off the top layer of seeds with a knife or blade.
2. Place this layer on paper or thick cloth and leave to dry in a warm place for 2-3 days.
3. Rub the dried mass in the palms of your hands to separate the seeds.
4. Put the resulting seeds in a small jar or bag and sign. On a piece of paper, indicate the variety (if you know) and the date of collection.

How to sow strawberries for seedlings

Delicate tiny strawberry seeds cannot be sown in ordinary soil taken from the ridges, and not every container will suit them. Therefore, you need to prepare for planting strawberries for seedlings.

You will need transparent containers (they will allow you to monitor the degree of soil moisture throughout its entire thickness) and a soil mixture consisting of 2 parts of sod land, 1 part of sand and 1 part of low-lying peat. However, with the substrate, you can not be too smart and buy ready-made, for example, for violets or begonias.

Strawberries do not tolerate picking well, so if the size of the window sill or the seedling rack allows it, it is advisable to immediately sow the seeds in separate containers, for example, plastic cups.

Not sure when to sow strawberries for seedlings? You can focus on the dates indicated on the seed bag, or you can sow in late February - early March.

Some gardeners lay a paper napkin on the ground and spray crops through it before the entrances appear.

Sowing strawberry seeds itself is within the power of everyone and takes no more than half an hour. It is enough to spill the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, after drying, pour it into containers, spread strawberry seeds on top with tweezers and spray with warm water from a spray bottle. The distance between the seeds should be left about 2 cm, and the container itself should be covered from above with a film or a transparent lid.

From the first days, strawberry seedlings need a long (at least 10 hours) daylight hours and an air temperature of 18-20 ° С

Do not forget about daily supplementary lighting of seedlings with special phytolamps. Otherwise, the plants will be very elongated, pale and weak.

• Lighting for seedlings at home

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Growing strawberry seedlings

The first shoots of garden strawberries do not need to be watered too often - this can contribute to the appearance of a black leg on the plants or mold on the walls of the container, which is also detrimental to seedlings. Only with the appearance of real leaves will strawberries need water. Then you need to gradually remove the film (lid) from the containers.

Do not remove the film (lid) immediately, but gradually, starting from 15-30 minutes a day, thus hardening the seedlings

1-2 weeks after the plants began to constantly be in room conditions without additional shelter, you can start picking.

Tiny bushes are transplanted together with a lump of earth, so as not to damage the root, in a container measuring 9 × 9 cm

After the appearance of the second pair of true leaves, strawberry seedlings are fed every 7-10 days with the preparations of Kemira Lux, Aquarin, Solution or any other complex mineral fertilizer according to the instructions.

Watering strawberry seedlings differs at different stages of their cultivation. In the first days after sowing, it is enough to lightly spray the soil with seeds from a spray bottle once a day so that a crust does not form on it. After emergence, watering is reduced to 1 time per week. With the appearance of true leaves in strawberries, watering is carried out every 3 days, and the water must penetrate to the entire depth of the soil.

For irrigation, use unboiled, settled water at room temperature. Rainwater or melt water is ideal for seedlings, but you can use it only if you live away from the city, large highways and industrial facilities.

Planting strawberry seedlings

If the planting of strawberries for seedlings was successful, and the bushes have grown, in mid-late April, you can start hardening. To do this, in warm weather, pots with plants are exposed outside, avoiding direct sunlight.

At first, in the fresh air, the seedlings should spend only 5-7 minutes, but every day this time needs to be increased.

Around mid-May, when the soil warms up to 15 ° C, strawberries can be transplanted to a permanent place, on regular or high ridges. However, it is not enough to know how to grow strawberry seedlings, you also need to plant it correctly, and then take care of it, observing agricultural techniques, otherwise this capricious culture will be ill and will not yield a harvest.

Firstly, only fertile soils are suitable for strawberries, so planting them on poor land is pointless - the bushes that you have grown with such difficulty will die. Secondly, although the culture loves lighted areas, young leaves can get burns from direct sunlight, so in the first 2 weeks after planting, it is advisable to organize a shelter or partial shade for strawberries. And finally, you need to plant seedlings at a distance of 30 cm from each other, and do not skimp on watering both immediately after planting and in the following days.

• Planting strawberries in spring: step by step instructions for beginners

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• Strawberry care calendar from spring to autumn

  A complete list of works when growing strawberries for the whole season.

You can make sure that growing strawberries from seeds is not at all difficult in the upcoming season. Choose the variety you like and don't be afraid to experiment. And you can always ask your questions in our Club of amateur gardeners.