A single strawberry is home to countless tiny seeds. If you can resist eating that juicy red fruit right away, you can actually harvest those little “nuts” and use them to grow a whole new batch of plants. Here is the lowdown on how to make it happen.
Harvesting Your Strawberry Seeds
Did you know that strawberries aren’t actually berries? Botanically speaking, the strawberry genus belongs to a group called “aggregate fruits.” That delicious red part we love is really just a fleshy base for all those tiny, yellowish-green specks on the surface—which are the actual fruits (technically tiny nuts!). You can save these seeds to start your own strawberry patch from scratch.
To get started, pick a fully ripe strawberry and slice it in half. Place the halves cut-side down on a paper towel or some newspaper to dry out. Once they’re dry, you can easily scrape the seeds off with a dull butter knife or pick them off with tweezers. Keep your seeds in an airtight container in a dark spot until you’re ready to plant.
Planting the Seeds
The best time to start your seeds is between February and March. If you try to start them any earlier, they might struggle with the lack of natural light, which can ruin your chances of germination. Before planting, soak your seeds in water for about six hours to give them a head start. While they soak, fill a seed tray with some high-quality seed-starting mix. Scatter the seeds on top, press them down gently, and cover them with just a tiny bit of soil—no more than an eighth of an inch (3mm) deep.
Grab a spray bottle filled with rainwater (or filtered water) and give the soil a good misting. To create a mini-greenhouse effect, stretch some plastic wrap over the tray or cover it with a pane of glass. Place your tray in a bright spot, but keep it out of direct, harsh sunlight. Strawberries like it cool but cozy; a temperature between 60°F and 65°F (16-18°C) is perfect for germination.
If everything goes according to plan, you should see sprouts appearing within two to six weeks. Just make sure to keep the soil consistently moist—strawberry seeds hate drying out! Once your little seedlings have grown a bit, it’ll be time to prick them out and move them to their own pots.
