Who knew that growing strawberry plants from seeds was possible? When I was a kid growing up on the farm, we had a quarter-acre strawberry patch from which we conducted U-Pick sales. Strawberry growing at that time meant transplanting either small plants that we bought from a wholesale nursery or the “babies” produced at the end of runners from an adult strawberry plant already growing there. The thought that strawberry plants could be grown from seeds? That is as radical a concept to me as growing potatoes from actual seeds, too.

I received strawberry seed sample packs from Proven Winners this winter. The company added three strawberry varieties—Berried Treasure White, Pink and Red—to their Proven Harvest line of edibles a few years ago, and those have been available as potted plants. But for 2021 they have added the strawberry seeds.

How to Grow Strawberries from Seeds

Reading over the instructions that came with my packets, growing strawberries from seeds is not unlike growing seeds of any other warm-weather-loving edible plant like tomatoes or peppers. Which means you start by sowing the seeds indoors. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Sow your strawberry seeds in pots indoors about eight weeks before your area’s last frost date. Use a seed-starting soil mix, such as three parts peat to one part organic-rich soil. Moisten that soil first, then sprinkle the seeds over the surface. Sprinkle a small amount of seed-starting mix over top, making sure to not completely cover the seeds. They’ll need to be exposed to some light in order to germinate.
2. If possible, place these pots under a grow light to ensure they have adequate light exposure. Keep the soil temperature between 60-70F until you notice the seeds germinating. If the pots are on a windowsill, be careful of drafts that might cause the soil temperature to dip below 60F. Strawberry seeds will germinate in two to three weeks.
3. Transplant your strawberry plants outdoors once beyond the last frost of the season. Acclimate the pots beforehand; meaning, set the pots in a shady spot during the day for a few days, bringing them in at night. Gradually increase sun exposure and time outside until they’ve gotten used to the outdoor environment, about a week or so.

Other Tips

If you planted all of your strawberry seeds in just one or two pots, I would suggest eventually transplanting them so that each plant has its own pot.

Another tip—when finally transplanting your strawberry plants grown from seeds outdoors, amend your garden’s soil with some extra compost, peat moss and sand. The strawberry plants will appreciate the growing environment those amendments provide.