Strawberry Planting Methods, Timing and Soil Requirements Explained
Because I love eating strawberries so much, I buy them several times almost every spring. Nowadays many people are preparing to grow strawberries themselves, so do you know how to grow strawberries? Let's take a look!
Simply pick a larger, redder strawberry and cut a thin slice off, along with the seeds on the surface and a bit of the flesh. It is very fresh, with no special treatment or drying, and you just toss it into a flower pot to sow. If you are worried that the flesh will rot and affect the seeds, it is better to take the trouble to remove the flesh.
Strawberry seeds are photoblastic (light-requiring) for germination (see note). I did not cover them with soil, and the germination rate was quite high.
Note: Some plant seeds need light in order to germinate, and these are called "photoblastic seeds" (light-requiring seeds). Generally speaking, seeds that are finer and smaller store less nutrients inside, which is not enough to supply the nutrients needed for the embryo to break through the soil, so they can only germinate on the soil surface and belong to the light-requiring type. When sowing and planting such plants, there is no need to cover the seeds with soil.
If you are worried that the strawberry seeds are too small and will be blown away by the wind, you can cover them with a thin layer of soil.
After sowing, they will germinate in as quickly as three days to a week, or as slowly as one to two months. I usually sow between March and April each year. The first time I grew them, it seemed to take one to two months to germinate, and I once thought I had failed, so I was very happy when the sprouts finally appeared. After that it went more and more smoothly, and the third time I sowed them, they germinated in about a week. After germinationthey generally flower in 4-6 weeks, and then in another 4-6 weeks there will be a harvest.
Strawberries need at least six hours of sunlight every day. In drier and hotter regions, morning sunlight is best; in cold and temperate zones, the more sunlight the better. The soil drainage must be good, and it is best to prepare and add organic soil in advance, such as compost, peat moss and manure, mixing them well before use. At the same time, mix it well with the existing soil before planting.
Strawberries like slightly acidic soil, around 5.5-7 pH. If the soil in the area where you live is on the alkaline side, you can improve the soil in the way described in Soil pH according to the soil's acidity and alkalinity. Generally, neutral soil needs no excessive worry.
To prevent mold diseases and insect pests, it is best not to grow the same type of plant in the same spot year after year. The same goes for strawberries. Although strawberries produce runners, it is best to plant new seeds or daughter plants every year to ensure both high quality and high yield.
