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Planting season: most strawberry seeds require cold stratification to germinate, and they won’t break dormancy until they’ve gone through winter-like conditions.
To germinate strawberry seeds: Place the seed packet into a Ziploc plastic bag or tight-sealing jar. Place that in the sealed container with the seed packet into the refrigerator and leave it there for about a month. After a month in the refrigerator, take the whole sealed container out of the refrigerator but do not open it. Allow it to come to room temperature while still sealed, which will prevent condensation from gathering on the cold seeds.
After about a day on the counter, the seeds will have warmed and they’re ready for planting. Some strawberry seeds do not require cold stratification, but it’s hard to know which ones. They may well germinate without this process, but even if they don’t require it, it won’t hurt them. Germinating strawberries can be an extended process, and takes somewhere between 1 and 6 weeks.
Soil: Well-drained, fertile, light soil.
Sowing depth: Strawberry seeds are very small, and they should be planted at or near the surface of the soil. Start with a pre-moistened seed starting mix in seedling trays. Place 3-4 seeds in each cell, directly on the top of the soil. Gently press tamp the seeds down, but don’t cover them with soil, as they need light to germinate. Mist the top of the soil with water, and keep it just barely moist until the strawberry seeds germinate. Keep the trays in a warm sunny space and ensure the soil stays just barely moist without being soggy. Provide good airflow to avoid dampening off.
Spacing: 30cm apart.
Light: bright, sunny location with plenty of sunlight. They perform best receiving 6-8h of sun daily. If afternoon sun is burning hot, provide some shade.
Watering: regular to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Best when soil starts to feel dry to the touch.
Fertilizing to get them off to a strong start (we highly recommend to use TSM Organic Growth Activator, which supports healthy & robust growth and promotes high yields). Feed young seedlings every 2 weeks with half-strength fertilizer. Either way, keep the strawberry plants well fertilized as they’re heavy feeders, and mulch with straw to keep the beds weed-free. If the sun is burning hot, provide some shade.
Germination takes anywhere from 7 days to 6 weeks.
When the seedling has grown and produced three sets of true leaves (the first leave to appear are the cotyledon, or seed leaves), transplant the strawberries into larger containers. Harden off plants before placing them in the garden or outdoor containers. Plant after last spring frost in temperate climates.
Pests & diseases: aphids, strawberry spider mites, slugs, loopers, armyworm, Japanese beetle. Gray Mold, angular leaf spot, leaf scorch, powdery mildew.
We highly recommend using TSM Organic Neem Oil for a natural overall protection and treatment of pests and diseases.
Temperate climate: Plant strawberry seeds indoors about 10-12 weeks before the last spring frost in your area. In spring, sow seeds 1 inch apart and 1/8 inch deep in a container of fine seed starting mix. Maintain at 60 – 70° and provide a strong light source. Keep evenly moist but not soggy. When they have several sets of leaves, transplant 3 inches apart into a deeper container or individual pots so root systems have room to develop. When 3 inches tall, gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions and plant 12 inches apart in fertile soil in full sun or partial shade in very hot climates. Once the young strawberry seedlings are 2-3” tall, and the last spring frosts have passed, it’s time to think about planting them in the garden. Strawberry seedlings are delicate, and they’re accustomed to the consistent light and temperatures in their indoor growing area. It’s important to harden off the seedlings by exposing them to the outdoors before planting. Once the seedlings are hardened off, transplant them to a prepared garden bed with rich soil, spacing about 6 to 8 inches apart for alpine varieties and 8 to 12 inches apart for regular strawberries.
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