Planting strawberries is both beneficial to you and the environment.
Not only are you giving yourself nutrient rich and fresh fruit to eat you’re replanting seeds that will be scattered by wind or small insects that will hopefully result in more plants that you began with!
Like many fruits and vegetables strawberries can be hard to grow because of the specific time they need to be planted. And, as any seasoned gardener knows, not all planted seeds will bear fruit.
That is why it is best to plant as many as possible to ensure some from the bunch will take root, grow and eventually bear fruit.
Table of Contents
When Is The Best Time To Plant Strawberries?
The best time to plant delicious red strawberry seeds is mid April after the last of the winter frost has come and gone.
However, you must keep in mind where you live. Some places get up to 80 degrees in February while other places have snowfall lasting until the very end of April.
If you want to ensure your seeds are going to grow you’ll need to find that perfect sweet spot before it gets too warm and after the last extremely cold day.
You can always look up weather patterns for the last two years in your area to get a good estimate of when the ideal time would be or go off your experience from years prior. After all you know your area best.
Different Types of Strawberries
Did you know that there are three different types of strawberry plants? These different varieties really make a difference in your harvest.
Depending on the quantity and how long you’re looking to harvest your strawberries you should know the differences in each strawberry seed.
First, you have June-bearing strawberries which are exactly as they sound. They bear fruit in June and stop around that time.
So, if you’re looking for just a small summer strawberry harvest these are good for beginners who don’t necessarily want to take care of fruit all year round.
Second, there are day neutral strawberries are strawberry seeds that will bear fruit regardless of the amount of time in the sunlight. These little guys are the most likely to sprout if they’re planted too early or too late because they don’t require vast amounts of sunlight that is typically happening in the middle of summertime.
As long as the temperature is about 35 degrees and below 85 expect to be getting strawberries consistently throughout the seasons!
Third, there are everbearing strawberries and the most common. These strawberry seeds bear fruit in two seasons. Late summer/early fall or late spring/early summer. However, everbearing strawberries have an average lifespan of three years.
If you’re looking to have a continued strawberry source these are your best bet.
These little guys do need at least eight hours in direct sunlight so it is best to plant these right as spring is ending and the summer sun is making the days longer.
What Type of Soil Do Strawberry Seeds Need?
Strawberries are perennials so they’ll grow back the for the next picking season as long as the soil is properly taken care of.
All three types of strawberry seeds do well in organically rich soil with an acidic pH between 5.5 and 5.6. When you’re buying planting soil pay attention to the level of organic matter and acidity to ensure you get the best dirt for your seeds.
Strawberries are versatile fruits that can be planted in pots or in the ground. One benefit to pot planting is that the loose fruit won’t fall onto the ground and get lost in the shuffle. This decision is, again, dependent on how many strawberry plants you’re aiming to bear fruit.
One or two in a pot would work but if you’re looking for a bigger number planting them in planter boxes or directly in the ground is your best bet.
How Many Strawberry Seeds Should You Plant?
No plant has a 100% sprout rate so it’s common for gardeners to plant two to three seeds per each small hole. Because strawberry plants extend and grow outwards you should be cautious of how close together you’re planting them initially.
To ensure you grow some type of fruit, especially if you live in a place that a last snowfall can be a surprise, plant four to five in a slightly larger hole and spread them out more. That way if you get two sprouts coming from the same hole you can scoot one over without disrupting the rooting or the soil.
Strawberry seeds take seven to eight weeks to sprout so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see in soft green sprouts right away. Ensure no bugs are getting to them, that the soil is good and that their location allows for lots and lots of sunlight!
How Much Water Do Strawberries Need?
Growing delicious fat strawberries isn’t like having a houseplant that needs a bit of water a day to survive. Strawberries need at least two inches of water daily to survive.
That, along with being summer fruits it’s easy for strawberry plants to become dehydrated. These plants need careful attention to ensure they have enough water without being overwatered.
Both can result in root rot and even plant death.
How Do I Know When To Pick Strawberries?
When strawberries are ready to be harvested they will have that trademark bright red color all over. Not all strawberries grow to the gigantic sizes you see in grocery stores.
More often than not strawberries tend to be the size of a quarter or a little bit bigger. If they are more white than red give them a few more days to fully ripen up.
Strawberries typically take four to six weeks after they originally blossomed to be ready for harvest.
It’s a slow process for strawberry seeds to bear fruit but fresh strawberries are completely worth the wait.Once they’re off the vine wash them, dice them up or eat those delicious strawberries whole!
