Strawberries in Russia are very popular. This tasty and healthy berry gives good harvests, of course, if good conditions are created for it. Now there are a large number of promising varieties that give a stable crop and are resistant to diseases. But it is not always possible to buy seedlings of the kind you like, and its quality can be far from perfect. In addition, the cost of such planting material is quite high.
Now in specialized stores you can find strawberry seeds of various varieties. But in this case, especially among beginning gardeners, the question arises: how to plant strawberries with seeds? To get good seedlings, you will have to make some efforts and be patient. After all, this process is quite lengthy and has its own characteristics.
Planting strawberries with seeds in March or early April will allow you to get the first berries in the summer. But for seedlings to be friendly, seed must be stratified. Such a process should occur in a humid environment at a temperature of +2 - +4 degrees. A refrigerator is well suited for this purpose. The duration of stratification is from 1 month to 2.5, so this procedure must be started in advance.
So that planting strawberries with seeds gives a good result, you need to approach the preparation of the soil very responsibly. Now in stores there is a large assortment of land for planting, including strawberries. But the universal one is also suitable, which is intended for growing seedlings of vegetable crops. And you can make a mixture yourself. It should consist of sand, preferably coarse-grained, peat and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 2. Instead of humus, you can use turf soil with the addition of complex fertilizers and wood ash. Any soil needs to be steamed to get rid of pathogens, as well as eggs and larvae of various insects. But if such processing cannot be carried out, then it is possible to pour soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
The complexity of such an operation as planting strawberries with seeds consists in their uniform distribution over the surface of the prepared soil, because they are very small. Many experts recommend using very small containers in which one seed is planted. Moreover, the height of the vessel should not exceed 5 cm, and there must be a drainage hole. Such a planting of strawberries from seeds allows you to do without picking, which is usually carried out when one or two true leaves appear in seedlings, but at this time they are very fragile and can easily be damaged.
Many novice gardeners make a serious mistake when sprinkling seeds on the ground. Strawberries sprout well in the light, so its seeds do not need to be planted in the soil. They only need to be sprayed with water from the spray gun, so that they better lie on the ground.
Planting strawberries with seeds has another feature. The container with planted seed must be closed with glass or film. Thus, a special microclimate will be created that promotes the active germination of seeds. Such shelter is not removed even when shoots appear, but they must be regularly aired. When 1-2 real leaves develop, the seedlings begin to accustom themselves to room conditions, gradually increasing the duration of ventilation. Do not immediately remove the shelter, because seedlings can die from too sharp a drop in humidity.
In order for the strawberry seeds to sprout quickly and together, they need a temperature of about +26 degrees. Just do not put seedlings close to the battery, because there is a risk of overdrying the seeds. Watering should be done very carefully, since overmoistening of the upper layer of the earth can lead to the appearance of a “black leg” and death of plants.