Growing Strawberries (from seeds)

Fragaria : Rosaceae / the rose family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
          S S S        

(Best months for growing Strawberries (from seeds) in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • Start inside in pots or trays after chilling seeds.. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 100 cm apart
  • Harvest in approximately 1 years. Seedlings need to grow for about a year before fruiting. Remove first flowers. .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Better in a bed on their own to allow good sun and air circulation.
  • Avoid growing close to: If you are using rotation beds then avoid putting strawberries where you have grown tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplant.
  • Ripening fruit
  • Strawberry plants

Alpine strawberries are the easiest to grow from seed. They produce tiny, triangular fruit with an intense flavour.

Chill the seeds, in a closed jar or plastic box, 2 - 4 weeks in a home freezer. Allow to return to room temperature in the closed container before sowing.

Sow seeds thinly on seed raising mix/compost. Cover with a thin layer of compost and water in. Keep under cover, either in a greenhouse or indoors near a window. Germination takes 2 to 8 weeks. Plant out into small pots to grow on when 3 leaves have appeared. Then transplant to garden when well grown. After about a year the strawberries will form low-growing leafy plants,between 12 - 15 cm (about 6 inches) high and will spread to about 50 - 100 cm (20 - 40 inches). They have five petalled flowers, usually white or sometimes pink. The flowers are followed by delicious red fruits which have their seeds on the outside. Later in the season, the plants send out runners like thin stems across the garden. They will take root to form new plants.

Protect your plants with some sort of netting or bird scarer or you will lose most of your crop. Strawberries like well drained soil with plenty of humus. To prepare your bed, dig in some compost before planting and possibly use a liquid fertiliser during the growing season. Well fed strawberries taste better. To protect the fruit from moulds use some form of mulch around the plants. Straw, pine needles, or black plastic are all suitable. Mulch will also help suppress weeds.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Strawberries (from seeds)

Strawberries can be used in any dessert needing soft fruit or berries. Summer pudding with raspberries and blackberries or boysenberries, mousse, trifle, dipped in melted chocolate or just with cream.
Sprinkle a bowl of strawberries with balsamic vinegar and a little sugar to enhance the flavour and colour.
Straight from the garden, warmed by the sun is best.

Your comments and tips

30 May 12, adedayo (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Can strawberries be grown in the sub-sahara africa?
02 Mar 14, Katherine (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello, I might be daft, but are you saying to plant strawberry seeds in the coldest months of the year here? If so, then perhaps that is why the last lot did not germinate when planted in Autumn. Thank you.
02 Mar 14, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Katherine, Have you read the information about growing from seed on the 'Strawberries (from seeds)' page ? There are detailed instructions.
19 Jun 14, Glen (Australia - tropical climate)
Katherine, strawberry seed needs to be stratified i.e. place in freezer for 4 weeks remove to room temp for a couple hours and then take the general advise for sowing in this site and you should be fine..........
06 Mar 14, Demxi (Australia - tropical climate)
Can strawberries grow in the Philippines? Our temperature can reach 30+ Celsius in the afternoon. If we can, can they survive here? Or should i grow them indoors?
08 Apr 14, Jenny (Australia - tropical climate)
YES, Search "Bicol Strawberry" , it is cultivated since 2013 in Ocampo Camarines Sur Philippines. This was a cross variety from Hawaiian Strawberry.
24 Nov 15, Gabrelov (Australia - temperate climate)
yeah, i bought the yates seed and took almost two weeks to germinate, it grew. I am living in manila. just keep the soil moist. don't let it dry but not flood with water. you can cover it with plastic wrap to keep the soil moist.
28 Apr 14, Berrill Ley (Australia - temperate climate)
Where do u buy strawberry seeds from
19 Jun 14, Glen (Australia - tropical climate)
Ebay or Ali Express, I find the latter being better in most cases and cheaper as dealing direct with suppliers.......
17 Jun 17, Maurice (Australia - temperate climate)
PLEASE don't buy strawberry seeds from ebay. So Many are fake (black or blue strawberries do not exist) and you do not get what you pay for.
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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