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 - tropical 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

13 Jun 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew borage once - the plants ended up 1m high and 1.2m in diameter so I feel the borage would just over grow the strawberries. They don't sell seeds here and you should find out what grows in your area.
04 Apr 21, Robert (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have purchased giant Russian strawberry seeds and wondering if the planting time frame the same as standard varieties, are these seeds a actual species or have i been lead up the garden path !! ?? Rob nrthn nsw
06 Apr 21, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Planting time should be on the packet.
01 Mar 21, Fouzia Saeed (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I want to plant strawberries in pots here temperature varies 34 to 40 Celsius any recommendation.
02 Mar 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have a good size pot. Place it where it receives some shade during the day. Water them often, this will be your problem with limited soil and high temperatures.
07 Jul 20, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
My strawberries have little bite holes in them ,just like a slug or snail has been at them.but I have been all over them and can’t find a thing ,but what ever it is ,is destroying my strawberries
08 Jul 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up a company NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS in your area and ask to talk to someone about your problems.
05 Jun 19, eouis (Australia - temperate climate)
which strawberry do i grow?
07 Jun 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go and buy some plants from Mitre 10 or Bunnings or nursery.
02 Aug 18, Glenn Yu (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
We are looking for strawberry seed
Showing 1 - 10 of 42 comments

Put the seeds in an air tight container in the fridge until you need them. April May June is the planting time for seeds and plants (runners). It says seeds will take until the second year before you will get a crop. With runners you will have a crop in the months following planting. I live near Bundaberg and they plant about April/May and are picking by about July-Sept

- Mike

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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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