Most often garden strawberries propagated by rooting mustaches or with the help of purchased seedlings. But sometimes it happens that you buy bushes of one variety on the market, but in reality a completely different one grows. How to protect yourself from such a misunderstanding and grow the strawberry variety that you really want to see on your site? The answer is simple - buy strawberry seeds, then the result will be guaranteed.

Self-harvesting strawberry seeds

Beginning gardeners have a perspective self-cultivation strawberry seedlings from seeds can cause a feeling of helplessness, because you have to make a lot of efforts so that the plants do not die and begin to bear fruit. But even if you have no idea, how to grow strawberries from seeds, this article will help you succeed and get a good harvest.

Growing strawberries from seeds has its own Benefits: the seeds are stored for a long time, and various pathogenic viruses are not transmitted through them. For planting, you can buy ready-made seeds or prepare them yourself. Propagation of strawberries by seeds is possible for any variety, with the exception of hybrids. You can choose strawberry varieties in such a way that berries ripen throughout the summer in your area.

Select strawberries for seeds from well-developed bushes that are not damaged in any way and give a rich harvest. In ripe berries, seeds are recommended to be taken from the middle part, as well as near the base, since they are larger, have a developed embryo and are characterized by high germination energy. Strawberries from seeds of this type will turn out beautiful, fruitful.

Select strawberries for seeds from well-developed bushes that are not damaged in any way and give a rich harvest.

Cut off the pulp layer from the berries, spread on blotting paper and let dry. Then grind the dried mass in the palms, releasing the seeds. Ready planting material should be stored in glass containers.

Video about harvesting strawberry seeds

Three months before sowing, the seeds must be stratified - placed in conditions of low temperature + 2 + 4 degrees in a wet state, periodically adding a little water so that the seeds do not dry out. Stir the seeds every two weeks, and dry a little just before sowing.

How to plant strawberries with seeds

• pour on the bottom wooden box a drainage layer of fine gravel or expanded clay with a depth of 1-2 cm,
• top layer fertile land 10-15 cm,
• compact the soil
• make narrow rows in it with a depth of 0.5 cm,
• fill the grooves with water,
• sow seeds in them, covering them with a one-centimeter layer of soil from above.

Growing strawberry seedlings requires careful care, because this plant loves moisture, warmth and good lighting. The soil in the box should always be slightly damp, make sure that it does not dry out. You will see the first shoots of plants in 20-25 days, then the boxes will need to be placed in a well-lit place and maintain a constant temperature of + 20 + 25 degrees.

Video about growing strawberries

With the appearance of the first true leaves, strawberry seedlings dive into pots or into another box so that the distance between seedlings is 2-3 cm. Plant seedlings in open ground it is possible at the end of May, when five leaves will already grow on the plants.

Growing strawberry seedlings requires careful care

By knowing how to grow strawberry seedlings from seed, you can grow any variety and end up with a sweet, large berry. Just remember that strawberries grown from seeds are not recommended to be planted too deep in the ground, filling up the apical bud, otherwise the plant will not develop properly and will quickly die. And for strawberries planted shallowly, roots can be exposed from watering and soil precipitation, which will also lead to the death of the plant. Observe the optimal planting depth, and then your work will not be in vain.

With the arrival of the first days of summer, we all look forward to enjoying juicy, sweet and fragrant strawberries and wild strawberries. Much healthier and tastier is a berry that is grown by hand, without the use of any harmful fertilizers. Planting these plants is a very simple procedure, it is much more difficult to follow them and achieve fertility. To do this, it is important to know when to plant strawberries and strawberries, and how to properly care for them.

Before planting, you need to decide on the variety of strawberries you want to grow. Today, as a rule, planted variety "Pineapple strawberry", these bushes give sweet and large berries with natural sourness.

When choosing which strawberries to plant, you need to understand that the harvest will greatly depend on the seedlings. Quality seedlings should have at least 4-5 green leaves, and its root system is located in a cell and closed.

If necessary, strawberries gave a good harvest already this year, the diameter of the root neck should be at least 5 mm, and the root processes should reach at least 6 cm.

Professional gardeners are advised to purchase only elite seedlings, the first reproduction. It is believed that a frigo bush, that is, a bush dug out early autumn and kept throughout the winter.

Planting dates

As a rule, strawberries are planted in autumn or in early spring. Doing it is necessary as soon as possible. If the moment was missed, then the seedlings may die. In the spring, this berry is planted when it is still not very hot. This can be done at the end of April or at the beginning of May, the specific date depends on the weather conditions.

Landing in the spring has certain features:

Answering the question of when to sow strawberries for seedlings, most gardeners say that this must be done in the fall, or rather, from August 20 to September 15. But the majority of people traditionally plant strawberries in the spring in order to get the first harvest almost immediately.

How to cover grapes for the winter

Planting seedlings

If we consider the question of how to properly plant strawberries, it should be noted that this berry grows best on land that contains peat. Chernozem is best suited, while paying attention that groundwater is nearby, but not very close.

plant seedlings necessary in areas with a slight degree of inclination. It is best if it is located in the southwest. The amount of humus in the ground also plays an important role, it needs at least 3%.

If the beds are not far from groundwater, then their height must be at least 45 cm, but if the earth is dry, the beds should be 20 cm high. cm.

Since the greatest danger for this plant represent May beetles, then it is necessary to place the beds as far as possible from the forest belt where they are found. If beetle larvae appear on the site, the earth must be treated with ammonia water. As preventive measure you can plant lupins near the beds with strawberries, the larvae die when they eat their beans.

Seedlings must be planted in the ground in such a way that their roots do not wrap. Bushes before planting should be placed in a cool place for several days, and the mustache is best placed in a container of water.

It is important that during planting the root system is clearly vertical, if it hangs down, then the roots need to be cut. Moreover, the root collar must be placed at ground level. When planted in dry soil - after planting, it must be watered immediately, after which the soil should be fertilized with humus.

Reproduction by seeds

Strawberries can also be planted from seeds for which special preparation is carried out:

Growing grapes from seeds at home

Effective strawberry planting methods:

• Planting nests. One bush is planted in the center, and six around it - in the form of a hexagon. The distance between the bushes is 10 cm. This method makes it possible to get a good harvest, since many bushes are planted at once.
• Landing in separate bushes. Seedlings are planted from each other at a distance of approximately 70 cm, so that the bushes do not intertwine, the mustache is periodically cut. This is a rather laborious method, good berries in large quantities, the fruits come out large, but this method will require constant removal of weeds and loosening of the earth.
• Planting in even rows is a simple and convenient way that makes it possible to get a good harvest.
• Carpet landing is the most popular method. Bushes are planted in rows, and the mustache is not cut off. With this method, the seedlings have their own microclimate, and they no longer need to be monitored so carefully and often. However, the berries can become small over time.

Care and watering

Plants need water all the time, otherwise they will dry out. It is best to put the system automatic watering but not everyone has this opportunity.

It is also necessary to regularly clean the site from pests and remove weeds. For strawberries, the presence of humus or manure is mandatory, in order to prevent the appearance of weeds, it is recommended to mulch the area. Best Option mulching - put a thick cardboard on the ground, and pour hay or straw on top.

We must not forget that it is impossible to grow strawberries in one place for more than 5-6 years, it must be transplanted. You also need to replace strawberry varieties every 5 years, otherwise the plants will lose their varietal characteristics.

Planting strawberries for seedlings

Strawberries are very delicious berry, growing everywhere in gardens. Even in small areas, there is a place for her almost all the time. About love for this garden culture says a large number of bred varieties with a variety of sizes, characteristics, fruiting periods, taste of berries.

Strawberries are propagated with a mustache, rather, root rosettes formed on them. But taking into account the characteristics of certain varieties, the berry is often propagated using seeds.

Propagation of grapes by cuttings at home

As a rule, gardeners plant strawberries with rosettes - they buy them in markets, shops, nurseries, or take them from their plants. True, sometimes seedlings of new or popular varieties of strawberries are unreasonably expensive, much more expensive than the number of berries which one bush can give. The seed method of propagation is much cheaper, but to some it seems inaccessible and laborious.

Varietal seeds can be collected independently or bought at an affordable cost in the store. In addition, it should be taken into account that beardless types of strawberries are popular today, so the skills of growing seedlings of culture from seeds will certainly come in handy for lovers of this berry.

Self-harvesting of seeds is beneficial from an economic point of view. To do this, choose bushes of the required variety in the garden. or just the size you like and taste of strawberries. A well-ripened berry is removed from the bush and for some time it is still allowed to lie down. Then the seeds are scraped off with a knife from the upper surface, laid out on paper and dried. Dried seeds are stored in paper bags until they are planted in seedlings.

The time for sowing strawberry seeds will depend on whether the seedlings are intended for autumn or spring planting in the ground. The main difference in these terms is that from seedlings that are planted before autumn, a full-fledged harvest of berries will be next summer. During the spring planting, there will either be no berries at all, or a scanty crop will ripen. Only remontant varieties at the end of summer they will be able to please with a large number of berries.

So that by the time of planting in the ground, the seedlings get stronger, have real leaves, powerful root system, gave the first fruits this year, you need to sow the seeds in the first decade of February or at the end of January. The complexity of this sowing lies in the need for additional lighting.

For planting in the ground before autumn, seeds for seedlings are sown in April-May. These seedlings will be ready for transplanting into the ground by the end of July.

Can be defined two landing periods seeds for seedlings - this is May-April and February-January. Although, taking into account the climate conditions, deviations from these terms are possible.

Features of growing seedlings from seeds

To obtain planting raw materials, it is necessary to know certain moments of growing from strawberry seeds.

Fertile beds in the country with their own hands

Soil preparation

The soil for sowing seeds must be disinfected by any convenient way. You can steam it in the oven at a temperature of +150 degrees for 30 minutes or also hold it under a quartz lamp for 30 minutes.

In this case, you can start sowing as soon as the earth cools down.

Seed stratification

To speed up seed germination, they can be placed for 5-6 days in a place where the temperature is not more than +4 degrees. What is unheated good for? glazed balcony Or the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. If possible, you can cover the seeds with snow.

In addition to stratification, seeds can be soaked for a day in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing strawberries

It is necessary to sow seeds into the ground with a distance of 3-4 cm. They are laid out from above, without deepening into the ground. This can be done with small tweezers, a sharpened match, or a toothpick.

Before germination, the ground must be sprayed with a spray bottle to prevent it from drying out.

There is a practice to keep the seeds in a humid environment for sunlight in a transparent bag, and during the formation of the seedling, plant in the ground. Sowing on peat tablets also proved to be excellent.

Care and germination

On the 15-16th day, the first shoots may appear, but often the seeds begin to germinate only after 3-4 weeks. Cases were noted when seedlings appeared after 40-45 days.

Seedlings need regular watering in the first week, but they are so fragile that it is advisable to do this with a small syringe, dripping next to the seedling a few drops.

To comply with the humidity regime, the container with seeds must be covered with a transparent perforated film. It requires holes to prevent the accumulation of condensate. You can remove the film during the formation of two true leaves.

Transplant seedlings to permanent place best when 3-4 true leaves appear.

Popular varieties

When the experiment on growing strawberries from seeds was completed successfully, then on next year you can double the number of bushes of beardless strawberries, after fruiting is completed, dividing the bushes, and from those varieties that give a mustache, planting material it is desirable to take from the bushes in the third year of life.

With extensive experience in gardening, gardeners have difficulty growing strawberry seedlings from seed. Seeds do not germinate for a long time, the seedlings are whimsical, and if they are oversaturated or lack of watering, they die. But breeding strawberries with seeds is sometimes simply necessary.

Selection of strawberry varieties for seedlings

Independent cultivation of strawberry seedlings begins with the choice of preferred varieties. Gardeners will have to choose strawberry varieties that are suitable for certain climatic conditions and soils. Information about these features is usually placed on seed packages by manufacturers.

Also, when choosing, it is important to take into account the complexity of growing a variety. V currently garden centers sell a huge amount of seeds different varieties strawberries. Beginning gardeners are best to pay attention to unpretentious varieties with medium berries, which do not differ in complex agricultural technology and can be successfully grown by a person who does not have solid knowledge in the field Agriculture. Master the production of planting material for large remontant varieties and capricious hybrids can be experienced summer residents who are familiar with the intricacies of how to plant strawberries with seeds for seedlings from scratch.

Preparing strawberry seeds for seedlings

Germination. On the eve of planting, strawberry seeds are soaked for several days in a saucer with rain or melt water, which is recommended to be changed twice a day. Due to this, the inhibitors that the seeds were impregnated to increase the shelf life are destroyed.

At the end of the soaking period, the seeds are lined thin layer on the surface of a moistened sponge, or toilet paper. Excess water in the saucer is drained, and it is placed in a closed plastic bag. In such conditions, the seeds are until they hatch on the shaded part of the windowsill. Germinated seeds are subject to immediate planting in a seedling container. Stratification. This procedure will speed up the process of emergence of friendly shoots of strawberries. It consists in placing seeds for monthly storage in a refrigerator. At the end of the freezing period, they are moved to warm place(about 20 C), where they leave until the first shoots appear.

Soil for strawberry seedlings

main properties, necessary for the soil for seedlings of strawberries - lightness and water permeability. To achieve the desired quality, some gardeners advise sifting soil mixture through a sieve. The following mixtures are best suited for strawberry seedlings:

• Option 1: 3 parts garden soil, 3 parts humus or compost, 1/2 part wood ash.
• Option 2: 4 parts vermiculite, 3 parts peat, 3 parts sand.
• Option 3: 1 part coconut fiber, 1 part humus or biohumus.
• Option 4: 3 parts sand, 5 parts humus.
• Option 5: 2 parts sod land, 1 part sand, 1 part peat.
• Option 6: 3 parts of sand, 1 part of garden soil, 1 part of humus.

In order to disinfect the soil as much as possible, it is either calcined, or frozen, or shed in advance with a solution of potassium permanganate.

When to sow strawberry seedlings

Most optimal time for sowing strawberry seeds for seedlings, this is the period from mid-January to early March. So in winter you will have time to carefully care for the seedlings, and you can plant and leave them before the onset of the dry season (important for regions with hot summers). If the crops are later, the seedlings may not have time to grow to such an extent that they can be transplanted in the current season to a permanent place, and they will have to winter in pots or boxes.

strawberry seedling care

The first shoots may appear in 3-4 weeks. Before that, you need to make sure that the soil is always moist. This is very important point care when growing seedlings of strawberries. Before the appearance of greenery, planting should be shaded. After germination, strawberry seedlings must be provided with sufficient lighting, but at the same time, tender shoots should be protected from direct sun rays.

You can speed up the appearance of green sprouts by covering the home garden with a film. Do not forget to ventilate the crops every day. If you provide them with favorable conditions and proper care, then the results can be seen in a couple of weeks. Winter seedlings of strawberries will need to be highlighted artificially so that it is illuminated for at least 12 hours a day. When the plants have 3 pairs of leaves, they should be seated in separate cups or pots. Fill the soil in them with garden compost, but without ash. Instead of the latter, it's good to add complex fertilizer, including nitrogen, potassium salt and phosphate. After planting, strawberry seedlings are watered under the root with water at room temperature.

Watering strawberry seedlings

When laying a new bed, young rosettes are well watered - at least 0.5 liters per bush. It is better to water the newly planted plants with a watering can with a long and thin spout and a small pressure of water so that the soil from the roots is not washed out. For the fastest survival of the rosettes, the bed is watered 2 times a day for two weeks, and then every other day so that the seedlings can gain green mass.

Picking strawberry seedlings

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 picking, water the seedlings with a small amount of water with the addition of the HB-101 stimulant, which will make it easier to transfer the transplant (only 1 drop of the drug is needed for 0.5 liters of water.

The process of picking strawberries from seeds:

• Prepare planting pots: fill them with soil and lightly water 1 tsp. water.
• Using improvised materials, make a recess.
• Take the seedlings out of the school. If they grow sparsely, then use small forks, capturing not only the plant, but also a clod of earth. In the case of dense plantings, pull out several at once and separate them, carefully freeing the roots, which can be washed with water. Place the seedling in the hole, straightening the root so that it does not curl up. Too long roots can be carefully trimmed with scissors and pinched with a fingernail. Watch the heart of the plant (the place where the leaves appear) - in no case should it be covered with earth. Compact the soil around the root. If the ground is dry, pour another 1 tsp. water, and better - a solution with HB-101 or another growth stimulant.

• Place the picked seedlings in a mini-greenhouse by closing the cups with strawberries with a transparent lid or placing the box in a plastic bag - this will help create a favorable microclimate for seedlings so that they do not dry out and grow faster. Place the seedlings in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. Keep the temperature at least 25°C to prevent root rot.
• Ventilate the greenhouse 2 times a day, remove the condensation that forms or spray the strawberries if it is very dry.

And growing it from seeds at home. Learn how to germinate seed and get a strong healthy seedlings for diving into open ground.

planting material requirements

Let's start with the choice of the optimal planting material, from which we will get remontant strawberries that bear fruit all season. You need to choose only from small-fruited varieties, as they are more unpretentious and bear fruit better in open ground.

These include the following:

• Alexandrina;
• Ali Baba;
• white soul;
• Alpine novelty;
• Yellow wonder.

If you buy more expensive seeds of large-fruited strawberries (and in fact - strawberries), then after opening the pack you will find that there are no more than 10-15 seeds in it, the germination of which leaves much to be desired. It is also worth remembering that larger fruits have worse taste and vitamin composition. For this reason, we do not recommend purchasing such seeds.

It is worth remembering that if in the future you want to collect seeds from already planted strawberries, then purchase varieties, not hybrids, since maternal qualities are not transferred to the seeds of hybrids (as is the case with the reproduction of many and in a generative way).

Important! Varieties "Milka" and "Seasons" refer to small-fruited mustachioed strawberries.

Soil and container for growing

Remontant strawberries, when grown from seeds, require a certain substrate and an appropriate container in which a kind of microclimate can be maintained.

As a soil, any light, medium fertility paired with sand and (3: 1: 1 ratio) is suitable. Several soaked peat tablets that will help the seedlings at an early stage. It is strictly forbidden to use any heavy clay soils, as moisture stagnation occurs in them, which favorably affects the development of the fungus.

Speaking of protection against fungus, we smoothly move on to the choice of capacity. The best option any shallow transparent container with a lid. Such a container is best suited, since any light prevents the development of the fungus. You should not spend a lot of time looking for the perfect container, since an ordinary bowl from the supermarket is suitable for sowing.

Before planting, disinfect the container with alcohol or potassium permanganate, make several holes in the bottom to let excess moisture out.

Important! Don't buy the most cheap option containers, as poor quality plastic can adversely affect young strawberries.

Sowing dates

Now let's talk about when to plant strawberry seeds for seedlings. There are several temporary options that depend on your desire to get tasty products as soon as possible, the regional location and the expected effort to grow strawberries.

The first option involves early sowing at the beginning of February so that in the same year you can enjoy delicious from young bushes. However, it should be understood that such sowing obliges you to carry out additional activities related to providing extended daylight hours and heating, and the seed germination itself will be slightly worse than in the second option.

Second option - spring planting. Sowing is carried out at the end of March - beginning of April. In this case, in the first year you will not receive finished products, however, the financial costs and time spent on caring for seedlings will be significantly reduced, as well as the percentage of non-germinated seeds.

Seed preparation

Before planting strawberry seeds for seedlings, you need to start preparing them to increase germination. The main process that will bring seeds out of hibernation is (the effect of moisture and negative temperature on the protective layer of seeds).

Stratification is needed in order to naturally destroy the hard protective shell seed which protects the core from moisture. That is, without stratification, seeds can lie in the ground for more than one year until the shell collapses. For this reason, it is impossible to do without additional preparation.

There are 2 options for stratification, which equally well bring the seed out of hibernation. Stratification with the help of snow (natural option). It’s worth saying right away that if you live in the southern regions, where snow falls every few years, then you don’t need to specifically look for it, since stratification methods do not differ much in terms of subsequent seed germination.

This option assumes sequencing:

1. Take a transparent container and fill it earth mixture, leaving about 2-3 cm to the edge.
2. We pour snow on top of the soil and lightly tamp it down to get a more or less even surface.
3. We put all the seed on the snow, leaving equal intervals. Seeds do not need to be pressed or buried in the snow.
4. We put the container in the refrigerator (not in freezer!) for three days.

Using this method, we will kill two birds with one stone: we will destroy the protective shell and immerse the seeds to the desired depth. In the process of melting, the snow will pull the seeds into the soil to such a depth that strawberries fall in natural conditions.

"Technical" stratification using condensate. V this case we will do without the use of snow, since it is not always possible to find it, especially when sowing in late March or early April.

We carry out such sequencing:

1. Fill the container with soil, leaving about 2 cm to the edge.
2. We spread the seeds on the surface of the soil at an equal distance from each other and press them a little into the soil. You can also mix the seeds with sand and simply scatter on the surface, but in this case it will be more difficult to control the density of crops.
3. We cover the container with a lid or several layers of cling film and place it in the refrigerator for three days.

There is a third method that is not related to stratification. The seed can be soaked in melted snow water for two days. To do this, put the seeds in cotton wool, put in a small bowl and pour cold water with snow. Next, we cover it all with a film, put it in heat and follow the process in order to plant the germinated seeds in time. Be careful not to let the cotton dry out.

Important! Soaking is not subject to granular or pre-treated seeds.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Above, we talked about the fact that the seeds are not buried in the ground, but placed on the surface, but it is worth discussing the sowing process in more detail. In addition to sowing on top of snow, paired with sand or on ordinary soils with subsequent pressing down, it is also possible to sow strawberries in prepared shallow furrows, which are located at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from each other.

Regardless of the method of sowing, you should always remember that covering planting material with soil is strictly prohibited. Even the strongest seeds will not be able to lift the ground to break through to the light. The soil in the container must be leveled and lightly moistened. Humidification is carried out with the help (using a syringe or fingers).

Crop care

After you have stratified the seeds, the container must be moved to a warm, bright place. The temperature in the room should not be lower than 20 ° C and higher than 25 ° C. There should be enough light, however, direct sunlight at noon should not fall on the container so that the soil does not dry out.

Since only daylight will not be enough, a fluorescent lamp is installed near the container, which should “work” from 6 am to 11 am. Cover must be removed daily(cover or film) to check the humidity and ventilate. Condensation must be wiped off during ventilation.

Important! The absence of condensation on the lid or film indicates a decrease in humidity. Accordingly, soil moisture is required.

Subject to all parameters, the first shoots will appear in 2-4 weeks, depending on the variety.

seedling care

Next, learn how to grow strong seedlings of strawberries from germinated seeds. After our seedlings germinate, we need to make holes in the lid / film for air circulation. After 3-4 days, the shelter is completely removed, gradually accustoming the plants to the external environment.

In the process of seedling growth, it needs the same temperature (not lower than 20 ° C) and moistened soil. Watering should be done with extreme caution. using a syringe or pipette. The liquid must be "lowered" along the walls of the container so as not to wash the seeds out of the soil.

Also, do not forget about additional lighting. After the greens hatch from the ground, getting any (morning, noon or evening) direct sunlight is extremely dangerous, as the leaves will immediately get burned. Thus, caring for seedlings is not much different from caring for crops. Observe temperature regime and don't forget about daily inspection to keep the seedlings healthy.

Did you know? East Asia is considered the center of origin and initial development of strawberries.

Seedling dive

Picking is carried out after the formation of 2-3 leaves in a new place (in separate cups). This process is extremely complex, since it is very easy to damage young plants during transplantation. Any damage to the stem or roots will result in wilting.

The easiest way to transplant is to use plastic tweezers with cotton pads that will not concentrate pressure at one point. Each plant is carefully held during extraction from the ground, so as not to pull out fragile roots.

Propagation of strawberries by seeds is a troublesome and time-consuming task. Not every even an experienced gardener will decide to do this process. But it has its advantages. With the help of seeds, you can try to grow new varieties of berries or simply improve the health of plants.

True, you will have to be patient. The germination of strawberry seeds does not always please with the expected result. Seeds germinate for a very long time, and may not sprout at all. The sprouts that appear will also cause a lot of trouble. They are so fragile and small in size that they can only be taken with tweezers. Yes, and watering rules must be observed very strictly.

And yet, if you decide to do this, then start with small-fruited strawberries. Choose varieties that can bear fruit several times per season (remontant). This type of strawberry gives good harvests, less demanding in care and has a low price. On such varieties, you can gain experience, and then take into account all the minuses and mistakes and move on to breeding large-fruited varieties.

Strawberry seeds can be sown in any month from February to April. Seedlings need a lot of light to grow. In February and March, natural light is clearly not enough, so you will have to highlight the seedlings artificially (about twelve hours a day). But on the other hand, the seeds sown in February will give their harvest in the coming summer.

Seeds that will be planted in April will have better luck with natural light. Only now the fruits on these bushes will not appear this season. Will have to wait until next year.

The soil for growing strawberry seedlings must be carefully prepared. The preparation includes spilling it with a manganese solution or using other methods of disinfection from pests and diseases.

To make the soil as light as possible, it should be sieved through a sieve. In this crushed form, it will easily pass air and water, which is very important for the plant. For seedlings of this berry, there are several options for different soil mixtures.

• Blend #1. It consists of ordinary soil from the garden (three parts), humus (three parts) and 0.5 parts of ash.
• Blend #2. It consists of peat and sand (three parts each) and vermiculite (four parts).
• Blend #3. It consists of equal parts humus and coconut fiber.
• Blend #4. It consists of sand and humus (three and five parts, respectively).
• Blend #5. It consists of peat and sand (one part each) and sod land (two parts).
• Blend #6. It consists of humus and garden soil (one part each) and sand (three parts).

The seeds of the plant are as if in hibernation. Such "sleeping" seeds themselves will not be able to germinate due to growth blockers. They need to artificially create conditions that are similar to those in nature. This process is called stratification. You can't do without it. Stratification will help wake up the seeds and provide future seedlings with normal further growth and development.

Since stratification itself is considered a troublesome process, you can try to combine it with sowing. Traditionally, the seeds are laid out on a damp cloth or on cotton pads and kept for some time in the refrigerator. Only after that - they are transferred to the ground (sown). But you can kill two birds with one stone and save a little time and effort.

First you need to prepare plastic containers (preferably with a lid), at the bottom of which there must be drainage holes. Then these containers need to be filled with special soil, without filling the last two centimeters from the top. The soil is lightly sprayed and then the seeds are sown evenly. Instead of soil, the seeds are covered with snow from above to the very top of the container. Then tightly cover with a lid and put in the refrigerator for fifteen days.

Further, everything will happen in the same way as it would happen in natural conditions. The snow will melt gradually, and the water that appears will carry the seeds into the soil. After about two weeks, the containers from the refrigerator are transferred to the windowsill. The lid remains closed for now. Seeds do not need additional watering yet, but the missing lighting will have to be taken care of. During this period, light is vital for the plant.

The first shoots appear in different time at different varieties. For some, after ten days, and for others, after thirty.

As soon as the first sprouts appear, the plant needs additional air exchange. To do this, the lid on the container will have to be opened regularly for a short time. One of the most important points in growing seedlings is constant and moderate soil moisture. Drying and waterlogging for this plant is simply fatal. If the lid on the container is removed, the moisture will evaporate very quickly, which is very undesirable.

A transparent plastic container with a lid for germinating seeds in this case was not chosen by chance. It is a kind of device for monitoring the level of humidity inside itself. A slightly misted lid indicates normal humidity. Drops inside the lid - a signal of excess moisture, plants need urgent ventilation. A dry cover indicates the need for watering.

For irrigation, it is better to stock up on melt water. It is the most favorable for this seedling. To avoid fungal diseases, the Fitosporin preparation is added to the irrigation water. The instructions on the packaging will help you mix it with water in the correct proportions.

Watering strawberry seedlings is carried out carefully. You can not use watering from an ordinary garden watering can - this will destroy the tender sprouts. The most optimal tool for watering is a medical syringe or a fine-jet sprayer. After three days after the appearance of young sprouts, the lid is removed from the container. It won't be needed anymore.

Seedling picking can be carried out when three full-fledged leaves appear on each plant. For convenience, experienced gardeners advise using tweezers when picking. This procedure will require endurance and patience, as the plants are very fragile and thin. When planting seedlings in a separate container, make sure that the root does not bend, but is sprinkled with earth. But the growth point cannot be sprinkled, it must remain above the ground.

With the right picking, the seedlings take root well in an individual container, and its stem quickly grows. If the stem is sprinkled with earth, then new roots will appear very soon.

Further care for strawberry seedlings is to maintain moderate soil moisture and hardening. The plant does not need top dressing before transplanting into open ground.