How To Grow Strawberries From A Strawberry: All You Need To Cultivate Yummy Fruits

Strawberries are a favorite fruit of many. They’re small and portable, relatively easy to grow and, of course, juicy and delicious. If you enjoy strawberries, you might have wondered, can you grow strawberries from a strawberry?

Well, yes and no. You certainly use part of the strawberry – but not just any part. Here, we break down what is possible, and also what is most efficient, to help you grow strawberry plants that are healthy and productive. Once you know how to grow a strawberry from a strawberry, you can enjoy this tasty fruit year after year.

Which Parts of a Strawberry are Best

There are quite straightforward ways to grow strawberries from a strawberry plant. If a friend has a strawberry plant and it has done well, simply ask them to give you a strawberry runner. Press it into the soil and keep it well watered to enjoy your own strawberry plant.

But if the question is, can you grow a strawberry plant from a strawberry itself, you’ll need to know which part to use. It’s not just as simple as sticking the whole fruit (or a certain part of the fruit) in some compost. Can you grow strawberries from a strawberry top? The answer is no, and it would be a mistake to try growing strawberries this way. What you need is the seed, which grows on the outside of the fruit.

Unlike some fruits, strawberries will grow true from their seeds. This means that if you do it right, you can grow a plant from the seeds of your favorite berry and get the exact same plant (and hence fruits) from it.

When to Propagate from a Strawberry

The best time to propagate a strawberry from its seeds is in early spring. You can start seeds indoors before the last frost. If you want to start seeds directly outdoors, make sure you wait until the danger of frost has passed. The timing will, of course, depend on your growing zone. The variety of strawberry matters less for timing.

How to Propagate from a Strawberry

When growing strawberries from a strawberry, your ideal fruit for propagation should be fresh and healthy with no bruises or rotting. You’ll probably need a few berries to get enough seeds. Slice the berries in half and leave them out to dry. Once dry, it’s easier to remove the small seeds. Collect the dried seeds and store them in the refrigerator for about three weeks. A ‘winter period’ is needed so you can germinate the seeds effectively.

Sow the cold stratified seeds in pots or directly outdoors in a bed. The soil should be loose, high-quality and mixed with compost. Because strawberry seeds are so small, you just need to barely cover them with a light dusting of soil. Keep the soil and seeds moist and warm as they germinate.

Because they can be a little picky and require constant warmth and moisture, you will get the best results by starting strawberry seeds indoors. This gives you more control over conditions. Once you have healthy seedlings, you can thin them and, if growing outdoors, transplant to beds.

Best Strawberry Plant Care

Once you have small plants, make sure you provide perfect strawberry care to get healthy, thriving and productive plants:

• Grow your plants in full sun and water strawberries regularly. Strawberries need about an inch (2.5cm) of water per week. Keep in mind that soil in pots dries out more quickly.
• Use compost in the soil or use a balanced fertilizer to feed your strawberry plants and keep them growing at their best.
• Pinch off the first flowers that grow early in the year. This will help the plants grow more leaves and roots, and will improve the harvest later.
• Remove and train strawberry runners as they grow to keep your plants contained. Otherwise, they will spread readily.

You can grow potted strawberries indoors, but you will grow stronger plants (and ultimately grow bigger strawberry fruits) if you put them outside in a warm, sunny spot for summer.

Harvesting the Best Strawberries

You can pick your strawberry fruits as soon as they change color and look ripe. Depending on the variety, conventional ripe strawberries are completely red or mostly red with a little white on the shoulders (obviously, white strawberries are a different matter, so judge accordingly).

Keep an eye on your strawberry plants to time the harvest correctly. The biggest risk in not timing it right is that birds or other wildlife will eat the fruit first. After picking the first ripe berries, check the plants every day for more to avoid losing them to wildlife. You may prefer to cover the plants with safe netting to prevent intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fill Your Garden With Berry Goodness

• You may know how to grow strawberries in containers, but if you fancy expanding your harvests, we show you how to grow strawberries in raised beds for the most rewarding results.
• Want to grow strawberries without the mess? Find out how to grow hydroponic strawberries for a cleaner way to cultivate berry harvests that are just as tasty.
• Running out of places to grow all your ground-based and container strawbs? Find out how to grow a strawberry hanging basket to take your fruit to the next level.
• Don’t stop at strawbs! There are even more ways to grow juicy fruits just waiting for you to explore with the help of our curated shrubs, plants and seeds. Browse blueberries and other edibles in the Gardening Know How Shop.

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