Q&A for How to Grow Strawberries from the Seed

Absolutely—strawberries propagate themselves pretty easily. They send out little appendages that have roots on them, which will actually create a new plant. So, when you're growing strawberries, it's good to keep in mind that they actually want to multiply and spread that way.

Strawberry pots are great! These are terracotta pots that have multiple little pockets on the side, which help keep your fruit out of the soil and help keep the berries contained a little bit better.

Strawberries typically germinate in about 2-3 weeks. However, you shouldn’t transplant them until they’re at least 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.

It depends on the type of strawberry you’re growing! Some varieties, like everbearing and day-neutral, will produce fruit in the first growing season, while others, like June-bearing, won’t be ready to harvest until the second growing season.

Your soil should be acidic and well-watered.

Yes, you can, just let the seeds dry out for a week or so on a paper towel. For best results, place them in a cool place. After they have dried out, plant them in some soil!

No, the seeds don't need to be frozen before planting.

After you plant the seeds under a thin layer of soil, wait until they each have two sets of leaves. When they do, take them out and put them into little pots separate from one another. If you have 5 seeds, for example, you'll need 5 pots.

No, but if you want to get the best results, it's better to start with them inside.

The minimum temperature is 15° Celsius (60° Fahrenheit), and the maximum is 25° Celsius (78° Fahrenheit).

You can transplant them outside in the spring once the danger of frost has passed.

Yes. Well, I've only tried whole strawberries, but it should work with half, too. Just mush them up into the soil so that the fruit is mixed with the top layer of soil. Keep it watered, and they should start sprouting within a few weeks. I've tried this with both alpine strawberries and Ozark Beauty so far.

Just grow them outside instead. Many strawberries are cold-tolerant and don't need to be taken inside in the winter. They can often handle spring conditions very well. Some are less cold-hardy, though. Supposedly, you can direct-seed alpine strawberries.

It probably depends on the temperatures in your house, and how much light you have. However, strawberries seem easier to sustain in a house than tomatoes and peppers, including in the summer where I am. I'm not sure how easily they'll fruit indoors, though. I have more experience with seed-grown alpine strawberries indoors than other types, but the seedlings of garden strawberries seem to be doing about the same at the young stage they're at now in my window.

Yes, but if it doesn't sprout, you won't get any plants. So, make sure your seeds have good germination rates and use ideal soil and temperatures if you want to help ensure it sprouts.

No, it won't. If you plant a single strawberry plant, then it will just remain a single plant.

No, there are no blue strawberries.

Yes! The strawberries will germinate and grow into healthy strawberries.

Yes. Day-neutral and everbearing strawberries can grow in containers. It's a more portable option.

Plenty. Keep the soil around the roots constantly moist, especially during fruiting season.

Use peat moss 50%, river sand 25% organic soil 25%. The temperature should be around room temperature 65-75° to start the seedlings. Probably grow them inside as they do not like hot, dry conditions. Mine like moist climate with 4-6 hours of non-direct sunlight.

Strawberries will appear from the flowers if they have been pollinated by a bee.

It should take around 2-3 weeks to sprout, and then 5-6 weeks before you see the first blooms.

No, you cannot, however if you want them to sprout earlier you may want to freeze them. But be careful as freezing the seed can kill it. If you leave it in the sun, then yes, maybe for 5 days.

It takes 2 to 3 weeks for a leaf sprout, and four months for edible strawberries. If you use any minerals to make the strawberries grow faster, your strawberries might grow in 3 months but the strawberry will be a bit sour.

Use a toothpick to gently lift them out. However, this is an extremely time consuming thing to do and you'll be there all day with just one strawberry and the end result will look pockmarked and spoiled.