How to get strawberry seeds from berries: home collection rules

Few people know that, in addition to tendrils, strawberries propagate seeds. They cover the berry, and are not inside, like other fruits. For planting 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 business and try to avoid the procedure by buying seedlings. At the same time, few people realize that they spend much more money. When buying young strawberry sprouts, there is no guarantee that it is the right variety.

A mature plant often bears small berries and is not as productive as the seller claimed. Seedlings bought in the market from a stranger are often infected with viral or fungal diseases. These and many other factors are decisive for those who want to grow strawberries from seed.

Pros

Growing strawberries from seed has the following benefits:

• financial savings;
• full transfer of varietal qualities;
• young sprouts have a good immune system.

Strawberry seeds keep for a long time.

Cons

They are so small that the seedlings are weak. They are very sensitive to any changes in the environment. Getting seedlings is a laborious process.

Strawberry seed position

Strawberries are called polyhazels, and this is not an accident. This is the only berry whose seeds are not located inside, but outside the fruit. Juicy red flesh is covered with small dark grains.

Seed berry selection

The largest specimens are selected for the material. 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 get fruits, or the taste of the berries will be different 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 with the help of improvised means. As an additional tool, use a toothpick, blender or blade.

With a toothpick

You don't have to use a toothpick for this. It can be any sharp and thin object. A pin, a needle, a sharpened match - everything will do. Collecting enough will take a lot of time and patience.

With a blade

The purpose of this method is the same as the previous one - separating the seeds from the pulp. But the procedure is carried out according to a different technique. In order to prepare the bones, you need the following tools:

• any object that has a sharp blade;
• paper towel or napkin.

Use a knife to 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 bones have been collected, they are laid out on a clean napkin to dry.

It will take 1 to 2 days to completely dry. 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.

With a blender

Separating strawberry seeds in this way involves going through the following steps:

1. A handful of strawberries are poured into a blender bowl.
2. Berries are poured into a glass of water.
3. After installing the cover, the device is started.
4. When everything turns into mush in the container, the blender is turned off.

As a result, strawberries become pulpy and the seeds separate. With the help of water, the grains settle to the bottom. The contents of the blender are filtered through a sieve. Thus, the pulp leaves, and only the bones remain on top.

Separate the grains from the pulp in another way. The contents of the blender are poured into an ordinary glass jar or a 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 clear, and the bones are clean and float along the bottom.

Storing seeds for planting

If a person is going to plant strawberries next season, you need to think about the safety of the material. The storage space should 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, in order for the seeds not to germinate, they must be stored in complete darkness. This will give them peace until next season.

Temperature

As soon as the seeds feel that the environment is suitable for development, they immediately go to growth. Planting material is stored in a cool place until disembarkation. The optimal indicator is from +11 °C to +16 °C.

If a person lives in a private house, the basement or cellar serves as a place for storage. For apartment dwellers, a balcony or loggia is suitable. A fallback option is to store the bones in the refrigerator door.

Humidity

Seeds are not stored in rooms where there are temperature fluctuations. As a rule, this is a bathroom and a kitchen. Also keep material away from heating elements. The best option is the bottom shelf in the pantry.

Optimal shelf life of strawberry seeds is 3 years. Planting material is undesirable to keep for a long time. Ideally, the seeds are planted in seedlings the next season after harvest. If you keep them longer, germination is reduced and the expected seedlings will not work.

There is an opinion among gardeners that air should flow to the seeds. They should not breathe, as this also negatively affects germination. They fall asleep in a paper bundle or a bag of the same material. For reliability, they are placed in a container that is hermetically sealed.

Collecting strawberry seeds is an interesting business and will definitely appeal to a person who likes to tinker with crops.

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