Alexandria Strawberry Seeds

Alexandria is one of the better-known heirloom alpine type strawberries, producing excellent yields even in high altitude climates. Alexandria is very productive and its fruits have a distinct sweet fragrant flavour. Thimble-sized berries are deep scarlet red, egg-shaped, 1-2cm long and weigh two to three grams each. Adapts beautifully to the garden and is also well-suited for container gardening.

- Latin Name: Fragaria vesca
- Days to Maturity: 100-120
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Canada Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Start Indoors or Cold Frame: December to February or may not bear fruit the first year.
- Direct Sowing: After last spring frost
- Planting Depth: Need light to germinate, do not cover, mist lightly.
- Days to Germination: 7-42
- Optimal Soil Temperature During Germination: 20-25°C
- Seed Spacing: 2-3 seeds every 30 cm
- Thinning Seedlings: 60 cm apart
- Row Spacing: 90-120 cm
- Plant Height: 15-20 cm
- Average Seeds Needed Per 10 m Row: 100
- Average Yield Per 10 m Row: 10 lb.

Also known as Fraises des Bois or Woodland Strawberries, alpine strawberries are miniature ancestors of the regular strawberry. They are smaller than hybrid types but are at least twice the size of wild strawberries. You will probably never find Alpine strawberries at the supermarket because they are just too fragile. Unlike hybrid strawberries which tend to spread, alpine strawberries are easy to manage because they reproduce by seed rather than by runners. Alpine strawberry plants tend to produce very few runners, which you can keep the first year to fill space or cut to promote fruit production.

These compact plants are easy to grow and are a great fit for container gardening. The plants are very productive and everbearing, meaning they will fruit in the spring and will keep producing until the first fall frost. Alpine strawberries are cold-hardy perennials that will provide an abundance of fruits for many years but should be replaced every five years or so, as production declines with age. They have a much better chance of producing the first year if started indoors and transplanted after last spring frost. The seeds can also be sown later in the year but fruiting may only occur the following spring. The bees seem to especially love their little flowers!

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

Because of their tiny size, strawberries may be a little tricky to start by seed. But don’t be discouraged. Once established, the plants will produce plenty of delicious berries for years to come.

To get a jump on the season, start seeds indoors early in the season from December to February. Strawberries may not produce until the following spring if they don’t get a head start.

Plant seeds in a flat or small pots, one seed/2 cm. Don’t cover seeds, they require light to germinate. Press them lightly and firmly into the soil. Mist seeds and keep them moist. Keep soil between 16-24°C for best germination. Seeds should be kept under grow lights for at least 12 hours/day.

After they’re established, feed seedlings with a mild liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Six weeks after germination, transplant seedlings into individual pots. Start gradually hardening plants off on nice spring days, but don’t transplant until after the last frost.

Dig a hole for each plant 60 cm apart. Work some compost or your fertilizer of choice into each hole before planting. Plant roots deeply, but don’t cover the crown of the plant. It should be right at the surface of the soil.

Water in well and lay mulch to shelter the shallow roots. Ensure that plants receive 3 cm of water/week. Strawberries prefer full sun and well-drained soil.

New plants that sprout up yearly should be encouraged to compete for space with older plants. This will ensure good berry quality and production. Cut berries by the stem to avoid harming the plant and enjoy these summertime gems by the handful.

After a few fall frosts, it is time to cut the plants down to 3 cm. Use a 10 cm layer of mulch to insulate crowns and roots throughout the winter. Welcome new growth by removing mulch in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.

QUICK FACTS

- The strawberry fruit was first mentioned over 2 000 years ago in ancient Roman literature in reference to its medicinal use. During the 14th century, the French began taking wild strawberry plants from the forest to their gardens for harvest. In England, the demand for strawberry farming had increased by the 16th century. During the early 1800s, breeding was conducted to improve the hardiness, disease resistance, size, and taste, giving rise to the modern strawberry.

- Strawberry seeds will remain viable for two years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.