Berry seeds?

[homesteadmom]

Ok I got seeds for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries & cranberries(as a gift for buying the others). Now what do I do with them? Will they be okay to plant this yr or do I need to get them started in big pots to transplant for next yr? Never grew berries before, much less from seeds. Any info is helpful & appreciated, thanks!

 

[curly_kate]

Wow, I've NEVER thought of growing berries from seeds! So I can't give you any advice on it, but let me know how it goes.

 

[setter4]

I picked up a little kit at TSC that had a pot, soil and strawberry seeds. It was for the GD but then someone else got her one too so I planted it. It only had 5 seeds in it!
Last night my neice asked me about planting strawberries from seed and I handed it to her and wished her good luck.

 

[GPN]

I won all thoses on Ebay this year and I planted mine none are up yet, But I planned to put them in pots for next year!!


GPN

 

[patandchickens]

You can probably *do* it, but it will take a long time and they will not necessarily come true to variety -- all those things are normally propagated vegetatively for those reasons.

I am under the impression that bramble fruits and blueberries take roughly 4-5 years to bear meaningfully from seed, as opposed to 1-2 from canes (or small bushes in the case of blueberries); strawberries may be only 1 yr, and there are some that will bear very lightly the first year I believe.

I'd either look up their germination requirements or just cold-stratify them for a couple months as a precaution, as shrubby things (not strawberries, I don't *think*?) most often need a cold period in order to germinate.

It seems like a tremendous amount of work and time for a result that could be gotten a great deal more easily by other means, but if you want a fun project, sure why not

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[homesteadmom]

Okay Pat, so what you are saying is that I need to wait until it cools back off again for everything but the strawberries? We are already in the 80-90's for temps here, the nights are still in the 50's though(although not for long). I was planning on the other berries in a few yrs anyway, as it would have been too much adding everything at once(cost & time wise) but these seeds were only $1.99 including shipping so I thought what the heck?! If I wait till this next fall to plant them then I won't be as busy either with all the rest of things & can get them started over the winter & just keep them in pots for another yr then if that is okay.

 

[patandchickens]

Okay Pat, so what you are saying is that I need to wait until it cools back off again for everything but the strawberries?

You could google for germination requirements for those plants, and know for sure; or if you want to take the lazy way out (and that is not a criticism because it is actually what *I* would do ) then you can easily cold-stratify the seeds in the fridge.

One option is to put the seeds in a ziploc baggie (one baggie per species, obviously!) with a little bit of lightly moist sphagnum or sterile potting medium, and stick 'em in the back of the fridge for a few months. Then remove and sow as normal, probably in pots so you can keep careful care of them.

Another option is to sow them into a small tray of lightly-moist starting medium (again, one flat per species) and put the whole tray into the back of the fridge, inside a plastic bag, for a couple months. Then remove and treat like any other seeds you'd sown.

I think in principle you're supposed to do the former but personally I've mostly done the latter and it's worked fine for me. Does take a bit more fridge space tho.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[setter4]

You can probably *do* it, but it will take a long time and they will not necessarily come true to variety -- all those things are normally propagated vegetatively for those reasons.

I am under the impression that bramble fruits and blueberries take roughly 4-5 years to bear meaningfully from seed, as opposed to 1-2 from canes (or small bushes in the case of blueberries); strawberries may be only 1 yr, and there are some that will bear very lightly the first year I believe.

I'd either look up their germination requirements or just cold-stratify them for a couple months as a precaution, as shrubby things (not strawberries, I don't *think*?) most often need a cold period in order to germinate.

It seems like a tremendous amount of work and time for a result that could be gotten a great deal more easily by other means, but if you want a fun project, sure why not

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Not to mention the fact that I paid $9.95 for this stupid strawberry kit with 5 seeds in it!

 

[vfem]

You can probably *do* it, but it will take a long time and they will not necessarily come true to variety -- all those things are normally propagated vegetatively for those reasons.

I am under the impression that bramble fruits and blueberries take roughly 4-5 years to bear meaningfully from seed, as opposed to 1-2 from canes (or small bushes in the case of blueberries); strawberries may be only 1 yr, and there are some that will bear very lightly the first year I believe.

I'd either look up their germination requirements or just cold-stratify them for a couple months as a precaution, as shrubby things (not strawberries, I don't *think*?) most often need a cold period in order to germinate.

It seems like a tremendous amount of work and time for a result that could be gotten a great deal more easily by other means, but if you want a fun project, sure why not

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Not to mention the fact that I paid $9.95 for this stupid strawberry kit with 5 seeds in it!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Just think of it as an investment in education!

 

[setter4]

You can probably *do* it, but it will take a long time and they will not necessarily come true to variety -- all those things are normally propagated vegetatively for those reasons.

I am under the impression that bramble fruits and blueberries take roughly 4-5 years to bear meaningfully from seed, as opposed to 1-2 from canes (or small bushes in the case of blueberries); strawberries may be only 1 yr, and there are some that will bear very lightly the first year I believe.

I'd either look up their germination requirements or just cold-stratify them for a couple months as a precaution, as shrubby things (not strawberries, I don't *think*?) most often need a cold period in order to germinate.

It seems like a tremendous amount of work and time for a result that could be gotten a great deal more easily by other means, but if you want a fun project, sure why not

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Not to mention the fact that I paid $9.95 for this stupid strawberry kit with 5 seeds in it!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Just think of it as an investment in education!

Yes, but I thought it was for the DGD's education not mine! lol