You can do it in January: how to plant strawberries for seedlings in winter

January seems like a month infinitely far away from the warmth of summer and strawberry season. However, experienced gardeners know that January is the time to germinate strawberry seedlings from seeds.

OBOZ.UA tells you how to do it right. Yes, you will have to tinker a little, but the result will be a real pleasure even for a summer resident with extensive experience.

How to choose seeds

It is best to buy seeds of small-fruited and beardless strawberries for germination. Of course, you can also try to grow large-fruited berries, but their sprouts are more capricious and will require more careful attention.

Buy seeds from trusted suppliers. And be sure to make sure that the material has a shelf life of more than 12 months.

What you need to germinate strawberry seedlings

You can grow berry seeds in a universal potting mix for indoor plants. Special soil for Saintpaulias is also suitable. Whichever you choose, it is better to disinfect the soil beforehand - steam it in the microwave for 5 minutes at maximum power or roast it at high temperature in the oven. Before using such soil, it needs to be cooled.

If you want to start the germination process in January, be sure to take care of additional lighting, because the day length is still insufficient, and due to the constant darkness, the seedlings can grow weak and elongated. The germination period in February-March is more favorable.

How to plant strawberry seeds

It is better to lay the seeds for germination on the snow. Pour the soil into the vessel in which you will grow the plants, put 1 cm of fresh snow on top of it, and spread the seeds evenly on top. If there is no snow outside, the frost from the freezer will do. Cover the container with plastic or glass and refrigerate for about a week. The snow will gradually melt, and during this process the seeds will be in the ground at the right depth for germination. Remove the greenhouse cover for a short time each day to ventilate the crops.

When the snow melts and the grains are in the ground, move the seedling container to a warm and well-lit place. The first sprouts should appear in 7-10 days. However, sprouting can be delayed – in some cases up to a month.

During germination, water the soil very carefully – with a pipette, spoon, or by spraying. The soil should remain moist, not wet.

Diving strawberry seedlings

When the sprouts have developed 3-4 true leaves, you will need to plant the young plants in separate containers – to dive. During this process, do not deepen the strawberry heart – it is left directly at the soil level.

Take out the young plants together with a lump of earth that has stuck to the roots. Do not shake it off so as not to damage the roots and transfer all the microorganisms necessary for the strawberries to the new container - this way they will take root faster and easier. It is better to cover the dived plants with foil or arrange a greenhouse for them in another way. The transplanted strawberries should spend a few days in the shade, and then they should be moved to the light.

Strawberries are planted outdoors only when the weather is stable and there are no night frosts. Usually, this weather does not occur until the second half of April.

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