How Long Do Strawberries Take To Germinate

Why don’t we grow strawberries from seed? Figure 1. Bareroot strawberry transplant straight from the box and ready to plant. (this and all subsequent photos by G.J. Holmes) Virtually all strawberry plants grown to produce fruit were planted as a transplant. Transplants take on many forms, but in California we use bareroot transplants (Fig.1).

Why not use seeds instead? Those little things on the outside of every strawberry fruit are seeds encased in a hard outer coating (Fig.2.). They are technically “achenes” but “seeds” will do for now. If you plant seeds from a strawberry fruit, some of them will germinate, but very slowly. Under optimum conditions it takes about three weeks for the seed to germinate.

The seedling that emerges is a tiny plant (Fig.3). It takes another week to see the first true leaves (Fig.4) and you’re still looking at a very tiny plant that is months away from producing a flower. Figure 2.A. The “seeds” on the surface of strawberries are called “achenes” because the seed is enclosed in an outer shell. The thin, curved structure at the left side of each achene is the dried up pistil.B. Strawberry achene size (2-3 mm) compared to the tip of a ball point pen (upper right) and cross section (lower left) showing the seed encased in the outer coat or pericarp.C. Figure 3. Recently germinated strawberry seed showing the seed coat still attached to the cotyledon, 20 days after planting. A 0.5 mm mechanical pencil is shown for size reference. Contrast that to the bareroot transplant, which will push out a new set of leaves immediately after planting (Fig.4) and produce flowers within days. Figure 4. Newly emerged leaves one week after planting a bareroot transplant. When we grew our first crop of strawberries at Cal Poly, I wondered why we didn’t see volunteer strawberries in that field when we grew a subsequent crop. After all, thousands of fruit that didn’t get picked ended up rotting and the seeds ended up in the soil.

Wouldn’t these all germinate and give rise to a lawn of tiny strawberry plants once the field was irrigated again? That’s what happens if you let weeds or any other crop go to seed the previous season. With strawberries, most of the seeds don’t end up in an environment where they can survive the journey from seed to mature plant, but if you look closely enough you will find volunteer strawberry plants, just not very many.

How & When to Start Strawberry Seeds Indoors for Maximum Germination & First Year Berry Production

And lastly is the genetics piece. Bareroot transplants are actually daughter plants that are clones (genetically identical) of the mother plant. Seeds are produced by the exchange of genetic information from two parents. And since strawberries are a hybrid ( Fragaria x ananassa ) you’re going to get a lot of variation in the progeny or offspring.

1. We don’t want that variation because a lot of it will turn out to be inferior in some way.
2. The beauty of clonally propagated plants is that once you have the traits you desire most, the daughter plants will all have the same traits and this leads to higher and more uniform productivity.
3. And that’s why we don’t farm strawberries by starting with seeds.

On the other hand, strawberry breeders work with seeds because they are deliberately crossing specific parents to produce progeny that have specific, desirable traits. In order to get new individuals with unique traits, you have to introduce new genes from new parents.

Why are my strawberry seeds not germinating?

The Wrong Amount of Water – If your seeds aren’t germinating, first examine the amount of water you’re providing. Too much or too little water is the most likely reason for seeds not germinating. With too little or no water, seeds remain dormant. With too much water, seeds become susceptible to rot or infection from soil-borne fungi (also referred to as “dampening off”).

Do seeds need to stay wet to germinate?

Seeds are magic to gardens. Tuck them in soil, add a little water and you are on the way to a beautiful bloom or tasty harvest. Start seeds indoors to jump-start your garden. Whether or not you have experience starting seeds, you will improve your success by avoiding these common errors.

• Seed-Starting Mistake #1: Catalog Hypnosis It is tough to resist the beautiful pictures and glowing words in seed catalogs.
• Even experienced gardeners struggle to resist the allure.
• That is the first mistake most seed starters make: ordering too many seeds.
• A simple secret to success with seed-starting is exercising self-restraint.

If you are new to the practice, do not start too many different types of seeds. Stick with simple ones, such as Tomato, Basil, Zinnia or Cosmos. Seed-Starting Mistake #2: Starting Too Soon In many regions, sowing seeds gives you a chance to get your hands dirty when it is too cold to garden outdoors.

Do not start your seeds too soon. Most plants are ready to shift into the great outdoors in 4-6 weeks. Learn more about perfect timing for seeds. Seed-Starting Mistake #3: Planting Too Deep Read seed packets carefully, for detailed information about how deep to plant seeds. The rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth equal to two or three times their width.

It is better to plant seeds too shallow than too deep. Some seeds, such as certain Lettuces or Snapdragon, need light to germinate and should not be covered at all. Seed-Starting Mistake #4: Not Labeling Trays Once you start sowing seeds and get dirt on your fingers, you will not want to stop and make labels.

1. Before planting, prepare labels and add them to containers as soon as the seeds go into soil.
2. Otherwise, it can be tough to tell seedlings apart.
3. Be sure to include sowing date on your labels.
4. Seed-Starting Mistake #5: Soil Is Not Warm Seed packets specify the temperature seeds need to germinate – soil temperature, not air temperature.

Most seed germinate at 78ºF. You will have sure success if you use a waterproof root-zone heating mat. Once you start germinating seeds in soil, aim to keep soil temperature in the 65-70ºF range. Seed-Starting Mistake #6: Too Little Light In the warmest regions of the country, there is enough ambient light in a south-facing window to grow stocky seedlings.

1. In northern areas where winter brings persistent cloud cover, you will need supplemental lights.
2. Purchase or build an illuminated plant stand to start seedlings.
3. For stocky, healthy seedlings, provide 14-16 hours of light daily.
4. Suspend lights 2-3 inches above seedlings.
5. Seed-Starting Mistake #7: Water Woes How much water do seeds need? For seeds to germinate, you need to keep the growing soil damp but not too wet.

Learning how to water seedlings is pivotal for success. Many seed starters cover the container to keep soil moist until seeds germinate. Once seeds sprout, do not miss a watering. Unlike established plants, seedlings do not have an extensive root system they can rely on for vital moisture.

1. At the same time, it is important not to overwater and let seedlings sit in water.
2. Seed-Starting Mistake #8: Not Enough Pampering Seedlings are delicate creatures.
3. They need daily attention and lots of tender loving care, especially when they are young.
4. If you cannot monitor seedlings daily, checking on germination, soil moisture, temperature, and lights, you will definitely reduce your chances of success.

Seedlings do not survive neglect. Learn More About Starting Seeds Not sure you want to start seedlings? Learn why you should consider starting your own seeds. Seedlings must be prepared for the transition to life in the garden. Learn how to strengthen seedlings before planting.

Should you soak strawberry seeds?

Strawberry seeds no need to soak, but it needs a germination process, next sowing in place of exposed to direct sunlight, and only then planted as well as cared for. Seed shoots out 14 – 21 days, first harvest Strawberry start 90 – 240 HST (Day after Planting).

Do seeds germinate better in heat?

The anticipation and excitement that come from sowing seeds for a favorite flower or vegetable can lead to disappointment weeks later when many, if not all, of those seeds have failed to germinate. While many factors affect germination — from the age and quality of the seed to the depth of planting — the most challenging for gardeners and often least understood is soil temperature.

Learning the best soil temperature for seed germination will go a long way towards your seed-starting success. Warmer temperatures speed up chemical reactions and, conversely, cooler temperatures slow them down. Those chemical reactions help break down the protective seed coat and tell the seed that it’s time to wake up and start growing.

For a cool-season leafy crop like spinach, the ideal temperature for germination can be as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. For heat-loving tomatillos, the minimum desired soil temperature is 80 degrees. Starting plants from seed is a fun and rewarding gardening activity. Many factors affect seed germination, but the most challenging for gardeners and often least understood is soil temperature. While there is can be variation from one seed type to the next, most seeds for warm-season edibles prefer soil temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1 and 26.7 Celsius).

When the soil temperature in your garden is too cool — or too hot — seeds may take longer than expected to germinate or will never germinate at all. Whether direct sowing seeds in the garden or starting seeds indoors, achieving the optimal soil temperature before planting will greatly increase the germination rate and also result in more vigorous plants.

Want to know what the ideal soil temperature range for optimal germination for the most commonly grown edibles? Download our free pdf that puts that information right at your fingertips for ready reference. Indoors, seeds often require warmer temperatures than the average house is heated to in spring.