Alpine strawberries from seed...
 

I have some alpine strawberry seed and need some advice on how and
when to germinate them and grow them.

Try here [url]http://www.fraisesdesbois.com/alpinestrawberries.htm[/url].

If you're googling - they're also called fraises des bois.

Good luck.

Thanks for the link.

They're very easy - just be patient. Mine have always been slow to germinate (tho' high percentages) and even slower to grow up! Worth it, though.

Should I sow them now or wait a few months?

Check to see if they require stratification - I don't remember, as I now just let mine seed themselves outside.

My alpine strawberries became weeds in my garden - they self-seed and grow everywhere. :)

To germinate the alpine strawberry seed, just sprinkle them on top of moist peat moss based soiless mix and patiently wait. I usually get ~25% germination without doing any additional tricks.

I'd suggest to wait for a few months and start them in late winter/early spring. They can be transplanted before the last frost.

Tania

[QUOTE=Tania;184471]My alpine strawberries became weeds in my garden - they self-seed and grow everywhere. :)

To germinate the alpine strawberry seed, just sprinkle them on top of moist peat moss based soiless mix and patiently wait. I usually get ~25% germination without doing any additional tricks.

I'd suggest to wait for a few months and start them in late winter/early spring. They can be transplanted before the last frost.

Tania[/QUOTE]

Looks like I will have to wait a few months to start
Those seed and I have heard it's worth the wait.
Thanks for the much needed information.

The modern hybrids traded flavor for size. The alpines are tiny, but pack giant flavor.

Wonder if these'll grow in the tropics

My first year growing these. I have 10 containers on the side of my greenhouse. I had read that you won't get any fruit the first year, but I have been getting about 30 a week. Dont know if the plants will last through the winter in my zone 8 garden outside, but I hope so. Nice taste to the small fruit. Picked 12 fruit this morning.

[QUOTE=mdvpc;187397]My first year growing these. I have 10 containers on the side of my greenhouse. I had read that you won't get any fruit the first year, but I have been getting about 30 a week. Dont know if the plants will last through the winter in my zone 8 garden outside, but I hope so. Nice taste to the small fruit. Picked 12 fruit this morning.[/QUOTE]

I thought about trying to germinate a few seed in a container
on my back porch and move them to The garage
During freezing weather.
How hard are the alpine seed to germinate?

Tim

Not hard at all. They are tiny, so I think Tania's advice on starting is good.

Ok my reply is not about the alpine strawberry but i hope you timbotide have had your question answered well enough.
I would like to share a resent discovery ive made with the more modern hybrid variety's.Ive been growing a 1960's commercial type and do them in a three year rotation,the newest plantings don't get covered to stop the birds so they make off with the little fruit that those young plants do produce,about three years ago i was noticing strawberry seedlings popping up in the garden so out of curiosity i started potting them up and growing them on to the producing stage of which ive found they are no different to the original strain and grow fruit of just as good size and taste.
I'm now onto the second generation seedlings are are still providing a similar quality fruit.
Garden centers and breeders etc have been telling gardeners for years to replace there plants from them because as they will eventually degenerate and revert back due to virus and that you cant grow them from seed because they are hybrids,but so far i don't see any variation in fact look consistently better than the older type.

Here's my alpine plants in 12 gallon containers. Photo taken 10/25/2010.

[QUOTE=mdvpc;187470]Here's my alpine plants in 12 gallon containers. Photo taken 10/25/2010.[/QUOTE]

Those are some nice looking plants. Does the seed require
Sunlight to germinate?

I dont remember if you need sunlight to germinate. I germinated mine in a hydroponic unit with artificial light, but I dont have any idea if it needed the light. Sorry, wish I could help with an answer.

Two years ago, I tried and had horrible germination. Last year, I ordered the seeds earlier and stuck them in the freezer for a month. Much better germination.

Mike

I may freeze mine until January and then try to germinate
Them inside under my grow light. That way the plants will be ready
To plant out in the spring.

[QUOTE=mdvpc;187470]Here's my alpine plants in 12 gallon containers. Photo taken 10/25/2010.[/QUOTE]

Where do you buy the white grow bags, MDVPC? I've only been able to find black bags.

40

I got them from groworganic.com

They are the easi-lift ones. I have had them for years.

Thanks - I'll check them out.

I had great success last year wintersowing them.

Do Alpine Strawberries do best in full sun, part sun, shade???

alpine strawbs
 

I used to have them along the path to my front door, it got morning sun only, they were happy enough to produce all summer and self sow themselves all around the walkway.

I took many of those plants with me, and they live in full sun now. They produce happily, as long as they get water in the summer, otherwise they go dormant for awhile. They don't self sow much there, but it's a kinda wild area that i get lazy about weeding. I have red, yellow and white, don't notice any diff between the varieties.

This year, i plan to move them over with the main garden, I've got musk strawberries also, i'm sure they'll do fine when they get watered regularly.

So in answer to your question, they do fine in full and part sun. I doubt they'd do much in heavy shade.

lynn

I, too, have been sitting on various alpine strawberry seeds, unsure of what to do with them. This thread has been very helpful, thank you!

I do stratify them...i put them in barely damp pulverized vermiculite in a ziplock in the fridge for a couple months. They germinate fine just surface sown if the flat is covered, then transplant when they're big enough to handle. Easy growers.

The last two years I got one plant per year per seed packet. Never would have thought of it, but I'll try stratification this year. Glad I found this.

I've enjoyed success when planting Alpines. I stuck the seed pack in the freezer for a month or more then winter sowed them. I used them as bedding plants along with some ornamentals, they are pretty "space fillers." I enjoyed the berries as I looked things over but never enough to do anything with. I grew up with "wild" strawberries and really, nothing compares to those. My Alpines were a bit mushy even when barely ripe but were flavorful.

How do you collect the seeds from Alpine Strawberries?