growing strawberries from seed

[netty]

Hi all ,I would really like to have a strawberry bed in my lottie next year and am wondering the best way to go about it .Should I start with seeds if so when, or should I wait and buy young plants ? thanks .

[netty]

[cornykev]

Hi Netty dig your patch over thoroughly getting all the weeds out, I find plants are better, ask around on your site if anyone will let you have the runners off their plants.  ;D

[brown thumb]

if only you lived nearer i could have let you have some new runners

[Digeroo]

I have grown some strawberries from seed.  Just a bit of fun.  Actiually ate one very tasty strawberry.  Have lots of plants but just the one producing strawberries. 

Runners is definitely the way to go.     

[Ellen K]

Keep you eyes open for plants - I am also trying to acquire plants to start up a bed.

And some varieties are better than others.  I bought a few Albion plants and in my hands the fruit is not particularly nice.  Whereas Sonata (6 good plants from Wyevale for a fiver and already loads of runners) are sweet and tasty.  My mentor on this task has a huge bed and they all came from one plant.  But that is too long term for me.

But have fancied the seed sowing too, interesting to hear for someone who has actually done it.

[martinburo]

I sowed some alpine strawberries that don't make runners. That worked well: like with runners you get almost no strawberries in the first year. You might still be able to start with runners this year, while it might be a bit late to start from seed. Unless you get given runners, starting from seed is a lot cheaper, so if you want a large bed that could be a consideration.

[netty]

thaks all. wasnt sure strawberry plants were still available now ,but may still try growing from seed as well.Hey nothing ventured nothing gained. ;)