How Are Strawberry Seeds Dispersed?
Animal Consumption & Distribution
Strawberries are a visually arresting and tasty food source for both animals and people. When the animals consume the fruit and seeds, however, they are often carried far and wide, eventually deposited onto soil to germinate in a later season.
Self Sowing by Decay
Mature strawberries growing either in the wild or in gardens are sometimes left to rot on the soil surface. This can be because the patch is untended or animals have disturbed the plants but only partially eaten the berries. As the red fruit desiccates, the seeds can be released into the soil and germinate in future seasons.
Garden & Commercial Planting
Human endeavors in both commercial and residential strawberry growing operations account for a significant degree to which strawberry seeds are dispersed. While many home gardeners buy their strawberry plants as seedlings to speed seasonal fruit production, others start seeds indoors as the tail end of winter to get a jump on the growing season. Commercial growers also start plants by seed on an industrial scale.
- Strawberries are a visually arresting and tasty food source for both animals and people.
- When the animals consume the fruit and seeds, however, they are often carried far and wide, eventually deposited onto soil to germinate in a later season.
Harvest Strawberry Seeds
Strawberries are available at grocery stores, but you can produce strawberries for far less by planting a few seeds. Strawberry plants (Fragaria) are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10, depending on the variety. Strawberries picked fresh from the vine yield the healthiest, most viable seeds. Harvest strawberries from the plant vines when the berries are red and completely ripe. Put the strawberries into an electric blender's container, and add 1 cup of cool water to the berries. Blend the strawberries and water for three to five seconds. Blending them longer may damage the seeds. Remove the remaining seeds from the bottom of the blender's container. Rinse the seeds under cool, running water, removing all fruit flesh or residue.
- Strawberries are available at grocery stores, but you can produce strawberries for far less by planting a few seeds.
- Put the strawberries into an electric blender's container, and add 1 cup of cool water to the berries.
