A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods of Growing Strawberries from Seed
Strawberries are a fruit that people love very much, not only because of their brightly colored appearance that makes you want to eat them right away, but also because they have extremely high nutritional value and are hailed as one of the top ten beauty foods. Strawberries are mainly propagated by seed and by division; at growing facilities, most propagation is done by division, and only when farmers are just starting out, since they do not have a large number of mother plants for division, do they use seeds for propagation. So how should strawberry seeds be planted? Let's take a look.
1. Seed treatment
Strawberry seeds can be purchased directly, or you can collect high-quality seeds yourself. In May to June each year, pick fully mature fruits that have grown well, peel off the skin, wash and dry it, then rub the skin into pieces so that the skin and seeds separate, and in this way you get the seeds. Before sowing, to increase the germination rate, the seeds are generally soaked first: place the strawberry seeds in clean water and soak for 24 hours, then take them out and refrigerate at 15°C, with the refrigeration temperature controlled at 0-3°C.
2. Sowing
For sowing, choose a good seedbed, as this benefits the growth and development of strawberry seedlings. The seedbed should be on slightly higher ground, level, and with plenty of light, and the soil should be well-drained, rich in organic matter, slightly acidic or neutral, and fertile. If planting on a small scale, you can build a small seedbed; if planting on a large scale, clear the weeds from the field thoroughly before planting and plow the soil to loosen it. When sowing, because strawberries are watered during planting, choose fine soil, mix it in, and then broadcast it over the seedbed. Before sowing, water the seedbed thoroughly so the soil is moist, then cover with a thin layer of soil.
3. Raising seedlings
After sowing, keep the temperature at around 25°C and keep the soil slightly moist; seedlings will emerge in about 15-25 days. Management during the seedling stage is extremely important. When strawberries grow 1-2 true leaves, thin the seedlings in time, control the spacing between plants so they emerge evenly, then pull out the weak seedlings and cultivate strong ones. In addition, strawberry roots are relatively shallow, so when thinning, weed and loosen the soil. Weeding prevents weeds from stealing nutrients from the seedlings, and loosening the soil helps strawberry roots grow more smoothly. Also strengthen water management and keep the soil moist at all times.
4. Planting out
After the seedling-stage management, when the seedlings have grown for 3-4 months and already have many young leaves and runners, they can be transplanted and planted out. Before planting out, prepare the planting plot and apply fertilizer so that it has enough fertility to support the growth and development of the strawberries, laying the foundation for a high yield later. When planting out, pay attention to oriented transplanting so that the flower clusters grow in the same direction, and also plant at a reasonable density. Generally, about 8,000 weak seedlings per mu is most suitable, while 6,000 strong seedlings per mu is appropriate.
The above are methods for growing strawberries from seed. We hope this helps you. To learn more about strawberry growing, please stay tuned to us.