How to get strawberry seeds from berries, rules for collecting at home
Few people know that, in addition to antennae, strawberry seeds multiply. They cover the berry, and are not found 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 find this a troublesome business and try to avoid the procedure by buying seedlings. At the same time, few people understand that they are spending much more money. When buying young strawberry sprouts, there is no guarantee that this is exactly the variety you need.
An adult plant often bears fruit with small berries and is not as productive as the seller claimed. Seedlings bought from a stranger in the market are often contaminated 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 seeds has the following advantages:
- saving finances;
- complete transfer of varietal qualities;
- young shoots have a good immune system.
Strawberry seeds are stored for a long time.
Minuses
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 arrangement
Strawberries are called multi-root, and this is no coincidence. This is the only berry whose seeds are not located inside, but outside the fruit. Juicy red pulp is covered with small dark grains.
Selection of berries for obtaining seeds
The largest specimens are selected for the material. The berries should be ripe, juicy and slightly overripe. Of all varieties, seeds are taken from a crop that has not been grafted and is not a hybrid. Otherwise, the person will not receive the fruit, or the taste of the berries will differ from the parent variety.
Ways to get seeds from berries at home
The grains are planted deeply, but even this is not an obstacle to separating them from the pulp. Everyone can do this with the help of available means. A toothpick, blender or blade can be used as an additional tool.
Using a toothpick
You don't have to use a toothpick for this. It can be any sharp and delicate object. A pin, a needle, a sharpened match - anything will do. It will take a lot of time and patience to collect enough.
With a blade
The purpose of this method is the same as the previous one - to separate the seeds from the pulp.But the procedure is carried out using a different technique. In order to prepare the bones, you need the following tools:
- any object with a sharp blade;
- paper towel or napkin.
Using a knife, cut off the top layer of berries together with the grains. The thinner the layer, the easier it is to reach them. After all the bones are collected, they are laid out on a clean napkin to dry.
It will take 1 to 2 days to completely dry. After the pulp is dry, the seeds are easily separated. To make the process easy and effective, the material is not left in direct sunlight for a long time.
Using a blender
Separating strawberry seeds in this way involves going through the following stages:
- A handful of strawberries are poured into a blender bowl.
- The berries are poured into a glass of water.
- After installing the cover, the device is started.
- When everything in the container turns into gruel, the blender is turned off.
As a result, pulp is obtained from the strawberries, and the seeds will separate. With the help of water, the grains settle at the bottom. The contents of the blender are filtered through a sieve. Thus, the pulp leaves, and only bones remain on top.
You can separate the grains from the pulp in another way. The contents of the blender are poured into a regular glass jar or large glass. The liquid is drained, after which a new portion of pure water is added. The actions are repeated until the water inside the container is clear, and the bones are clean and float along the bottom.
Storage of 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 kept in complete darkness. This will give them peace of mind until next season.
Temperature
As soon as the seeds feel that the environment is suitable for development, they immediately grow. 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, a basement or cellar serves as a storage place. A balcony or loggia is suitable for apartment residents. A fallback option is to store seeds in the refrigerator door.
Humidity
Seeds are not stored in rooms where temperature changes are observed. As a rule, this is a bathroom and a kitchen. Also keep the material away from heating elements. The most suitable option is the lower shelf in the pantry.
The optimal shelf life for strawberry seeds is 3 years. It is undesirable to keep the planting material for a long time. Ideally, seeds are planted for seedlings the next season after harvest. If you keep them longer, germination decreases 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 are poured into a paper roll or 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 please a person who loves to tinker with crops.
