Can you grow strawberries from store-bought strawberries?

hob_nob_bob

Hi,

I have a punnet of strawberries which is on the turn and I know we won't get round to eating them. I don't really want to waste them so I was thinking of planting these to see what happens. Will this work? If so, any tips on the best method to get the best results?

Thanks in advance

Silvertabby

I wouldn't bother.  If you really want to grow your own strawberries, either buy bare root plants on line or plants from a garden centre. 

mandy47

Make jam with your strawberries to save wasting them.

hob_nob_bob

Thanks both.

I definitely don't have enough to make a batch of jam but will certainly keep this in mind for the future!

@Silvertabby what's the reason for not bothering? It won't be succesful?

twopenny

It would take ages to get them to the fruiting stage, if at all. Store bought could have been zapped or a variety that doesn't propagate. But no harm in digging a hole and popping them in.

Strawberry plants produce several new plants each each year. I'm sure anyone growing some whould give you plenty for free but they are cheap to buy (from a nursery is cheaper not a supermarket) and multiply each year

Put in plants now and strawberries in a 3 mts. They're pretty much self maintaining. Or you can have them in hanging baskets.

hob_nob_bob

Thanks @twopenny, really useful info!

Silvertabby

hob_nob_bob said:

Thanks both.

I definitely don't have enough to make a batch of jam but will certainly keep this in mind for the future!

@Silvertabby what's the reason for not bothering? It won't be succesful?

As twopenny says.  I am growing bare root plants in a veg trug this year - but will have to fit some sort of netting!

I have grown them in hanging baskets in the past.  They did well - but the blackbirds got more than I did.  

twopenny

Net curtains for the hanging basket strawberries Silvertabby

PS you need a heck of a lot of strawberries for jam, plus it doesn't set without lemons and Certo (pectin) Yes you can get the pectin from apples but that makes it cloudy and taste poor. If we ever get PYO again that is the way to go for jams.

Mind its been a long time since my friut made it to jam. I'm overly inclined to eat some every time I'm in the garden so it rarely makes it as far as the kitchen.

MovingForwards

A few people in the various gardening groups grow strawberries from the shop seeds.

I've been given a few new plants, some baby ones and I picked up some bare root ones from a £1 type shop, in a plastic tub, drilled loads of holes in for drainage and they all seem happy.

sheramber

Freeze them and use them for fruit crumble.
There are recipes for freezer jam  that only use a small  amount of berries and no cooking involved.

twopenny

Found this link in my favourites if it appeals to anyone.

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2017/06/strawberry-tower-how-to-grow-strawberries-in-a-basket.html

I've had the plans from decades ago for something similar made from wire netting but this is quicker. You could even use an old freezer or supermarket basket.