Few people know that, in addition to the tendrils, strawberries reproduce by seeds. They cover the berry and are not inside, like other fruits. To plant seeds, a person is interested in the question of how to get strawberry seeds from berries?
Growing strawberries from seeds
Gardeners consider this a troublesome matter and try to avoid the procedure by purchasing seedlings. At the same time, few people understand that they spend much more money.When buying young strawberry sprouts, there is no guarantee that this is exactly the variety you need.
An adult plant often produces small berries and is not as productive as the seller claimed. Seedlings purchased from a stranger at the market are often infected with viral or fungal diseases. These and many other factors are decisive for those who want to grow strawberries from seeds.
pros
Growing strawberries from seeds has the following advantages:
- financial savings;
- full transfer of varietal qualities;
- young shoots have a good immune system.
Strawberry seeds are stored for a long time.
Minuses
They are so small that the seedlings are weak. They are very sensitive to any environmental changes. Obtaining seedlings is a labor-intensive process.
Strawberry seed arrangement
Strawberries are called multi-hazelberries, and this is not an accident. This is the only berry whose seeds are located not inside, but outside the fruit. The juicy red pulp is covered with small dark-colored grains.
Selecting berries for seeds
The largest specimens are selected for the material. The berries should be ripe, juicy and slightly overripe. Of all varieties, seeds are selected from a crop that has not been grafted and is not a hybrid. Otherwise, the person will not receive the fruits, or the taste of the berries will differ from the parent variety.
Methods for obtaining seeds from berries at home
The grains are planted deep, but even this is not an obstacle to separating them from the pulp. Anyone can do this using available tools. An additional tool is a toothpick, blender or blade.
Using a toothpick
It is not necessary to use a toothpick for this. It can be any sharp and thin object. A pin, a needle, a sharpened match - anything will do. It will take a lot of time and patience to collect enough.
With a blade
The purpose of this method is the same as the previous one - to separate the seeds from the pulp. But the procedure uses a different technique. In order to prepare the seeds, you need the following tools:
- any object that has a sharp blade;
- paper towel or napkin.
Using a knife, cut off the top layer of berries along with the grains. The thinner the layer, the easier it is to get them. After all the seeds have been collected, they are laid out on a clean napkin to dry.
It will take 1 to 2 days to dry completely. After the pulp dries, the seeds are easily separated. To make the process easy and efficient, the material is not left in direct sunlight for a long time.
Using a blender
Separating strawberry seeds using this method involves going through the following steps:
- A handful of strawberries is poured into the blender bowl.
- Pour a glass of water over the berries.
- After installing the cover, the device is started.
- When everything in the container turns into mush, turn off the blender.
As a result, the strawberries will be pulped and the seeds will be separated. With the help of water, the grains settle to the bottom. The contents of the blender are filtered through a sieve. This way the pulp disappears, leaving only the bones on top.
You can separate the grains from the pulp in another way. The contents of the blender are poured into a regular glass jar or large glass. The liquid is drained, after which a new portion of clean water is added.The steps are repeated until the water inside the container is transparent and the bones are clean and float along the bottom.
Storing seeds for planting
If a person is going to plant strawberries next season, it is necessary to think about the safety of the material. The storage space must combine the following features - optimal lighting, acceptable temperature and comfortable humidity.
Lighting
Bright light is one of the factors that a plant needs for full development. Therefore, to prevent the seeds from germinating, they must be stored in complete darkness. This will ensure they have peace until next season.
Temperature
As soon as the seeds feel that the environment is suitable for development, they immediately begin to grow. Planting material is stored in a cool place until planting. The optimal indicator is from +11 °C to +16 °C.
If a person lives in a private house, the storage space is a basement or cellar. For apartment dwellers, a balcony or loggia is suitable. A backup option is to store the seeds in the refrigerator door.
Humidity
Seeds are not stored in rooms where temperature changes are observed. As a rule, these are the bathroom and kitchen. You should also keep the material away from heating elements. The most suitable option is the bottom shelf in the pantry.
The optimal shelf life of strawberry seeds is 3 years. It is not advisable to keep planting material for a long time. Ideally, the seeds are planted as seedlings the next season after harvest. If you keep them longer, germination rate decreases and the expected seedlings will not turn out.
There is an opinion among gardeners that air should flow to the seeds. They should not breathe, as this also negatively affects germination. They are placed in a paper bundle or bag made of the same material.To be safe, they are placed in a container that is hermetically sealed.
Collecting strawberry seeds is an interesting activity and will definitely appeal to a person who likes to tinker with crops.
