A pick of strawberries grown from seeds: subtleties and tips

Strawberries are most often propagated vegetatively - rooted rosettes that grow on a mustache. If this is not possible, then it is propagated by seeds obtained from ripened berries. This method is also used to breed new varieties.

When to Dive Strawberries from Seeds

Growing strawberries from seeds is not very difficult, but it is important to follow the rule: plant them only if you can ensure that the plants have a temperature of at least 23 ° C and good illumination up to 12-14 hours a day. That is, in February, when the day is still short, and it is time to sow strawberries, you will need additional lighting - without it, the seedlings will be weak and elongated. Readiness for transplantation is determined by the number of true leaflets.

The first leaves appearing above the ground after sowing seeds are commonly called cotyledons. In each type of plant, they differ from the real ones, but they contain a lot of useful and nutrients. Never pluck cotyledon leaves - let them grow and then dry on their own.

Good strong seedlings, ready for transplanting, stocky, with dense, albeit small, 3-4 leaves. Be sure to harden the seedlings before picking, if before that the plants grew in mini-greenhouses.

40-day-old strawberry seedlings grown from seeds have 3-4 true leaflets and are ready for picking

Land preparation

Strawberries love loose, water-intensive and breathable soil. It is often advised to prepare the soil like this: take peat, sand and garden soil in a ratio of 6: 1: 1, mix well and plant the plants. Many gardeners do not make an individual soil for strawberry seedlings, but use a mixture of:

• 7 liters of soaked coconut fiber;
• 10 l of purchased soil based on peat (any universal soil is suitable);
• 1-2 l of vermicompost;
• 1 tbsp. vermiculite.

Photo gallery: soil components

The process of making the mixture:

1. Soak the coconut fiber briquettes in 2-3 liters of water.
2. When it absorbs moisture, add a universal mixture based on peat or 5 liters of compost and 5 liters of garden soil.
3. Add vermicompost and pour a glass of vermiculite, which will loosen the soil, without weighing it down.
4. Mix well.

Preparing pots for seedlings

Strong and healthy plants will be only if they are provided with food, light and air. Despite the small size at a young age, after a dive, strawberry seedlings grow rapidly, so it is better to choose individual pots, 200-250 ml. You can take ordinary disposable glasses, but then holes must be made on the bottoms.

Square cups work well for any drawer

To prevent the cups from accidentally falling and damaging young seedlings, place them in drawers, preferably covered with a capillary mat.

The capillary mat is a special white fleecy coating and a black film with many holes. 1m² the mat is able to absorb up to 3 liters of water, which then gives the seedlings standing on it.

Thanks to capillary mats, seedlings in a pot will take water from below, as expected, and the likelihood of overflowing seedlings is minimized.

Thanks to the water coming from below, the plant takes as much as it needs

Picking strawberries from seeds at home

The process of picking strawberry seedlings is no more difficult than that of other plants. The only difficulty is the seedlings are small and tender. Half an hour before the pick, pour the seedlings with a small amount of water with the addition of the stimulator HB-101, which will help to transfer the transplant more easily (only 0.5 drops of the drug is needed for 0.5 l of water).

HB 101 - a natural vitalizer that will help the plant withstand the stress of transplantation

The process of picking strawberries from seeds:

1. Prepare the planting pots: pour soil into them and lightly pour 1 tsp. water.
2. Using the materials at hand, make a recess.
   

   In pots, you need to make recesses for planting seedlings

3. Remove seedlings from the school. If they grow sparse, then use small forks, capturing not only the plant, but also the lump of land. In the case of thickened plantings, pull out several at once and separate them, gently freeing the roots, which can be washed with water.
   

   The seedling needs to be taken out with a lump of earth

4. Place the seedlings in the recess, spreading the spine so that it does not bend up. Too long roots can be carefully trimmed with scissors and pinched with a fingernail.
   

   Even a young strawberry seedling has very large roots.

5. Keep an eye on the heart of the plant (the place where the leaves appear) - in no case should it be covered with earth.
   

   Gently cover the roots with earth until the cotyledon leaves, leaving a growth point - heart - on the surface

6. Seal the soil around the spine. If the ground is dry - pour another 1 tsp. water, and better - a solution with HB-101 or another growth stimulator.
7. Place the peaked seedlings in a mini-hotbed by closing the cups with strawberries with a transparent lid or placing a box in a plastic bag - this will help create a favorable microclimate for seedlings so that it does not dry out and grow faster.
   

   We cover the spread strawberry seedlings with a transparent bag so that the young plants do not dry out

8. Place seedlings in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. Keep the temperature at least 25 ° C so that the roots do not rot.
9. Ventilate the greenhouse 2 times a day, remove condensation or spray strawberries if it is very dry.

Usually after a week you can see that the seedlings have taken root and release new leaves, and then the shelter can be removed. If the room where the strawberries are located is very hot and dry, try spraying the plant with a spray bottle 1-2 times a day.

Seedlings grow fast enough, especially with regular top dressing

A week later, you can carry out the first feeding of strawberries. To do this, use liquid vermicompost, complex mineral fertilizers or horse manure infusion. It is advisable to alternate feeding.

Strawberries are very responsive to fertilizers, especially remontant varieties that require increased nutrition. If the cultivation takes place in the spring, then the hotter the room and the more nutritious the feeding, the more light there should be, otherwise the seedlings will stretch and will be frail. For this, lighting is necessary with special phyto-lamps.

Video: picking strawberries in cells

Growing strawberries from seeds is an interesting activity that requires attention and patience. If you carefully follow all the rules, you will get a wonderful result in the form of delicious and juicy berries.