A gardening expert has shared an easy way to grow your own strawberries without having to fork out for seeds, but instead using food scraps. Michael, more popularly known as The Mediterranean Gardener on TikTok, urged his followers and fellow gardeners to save money on strawberries at the supermarket by growing them at home instead.
He explained that they’re incredibly easy to grow at home, and can be grown from the remnants of the strawberries you’ve previously bought at the supermarket. If you have any leftover strawberries or those that are going to waste, Michael detailed an easy way to reuse them to start your own crops at home. This is how you can grow them at home.
Firstly, take a strawberry, cut a few slices off the outside of the fruit. The slices should be nice and thin.
Lay the strawberry slices on a piece of kitchen roll, patting them and leaving them to dry.
Michael advised allowing the fruit to dry for a couple of days. The slices will then dry out, leaving the seeds on top.
The gardener instructed to “lightly rub” the seeds off the paper and collect them on a plate.
Michael said: “Take the seeds and sprinkle them over some compost. Keep the soil moist, and you’ll start to see baby strawberry plants.
“A few months later, they’ll be ready to plant out.”
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, the ideal time to plant strawberries is between March and April, and September to October. They can be harvested between the months of June and September.
The experts advised sowing the seeds into trays of peat-free seed compost. Scatter the seeds thinly and lightly cover with sharp sand. Germination requires temperatures to be between 18–21°C.
Planting in August or early September gives them longer to get established before fruiting, so they should produce a better crop. The fruit enjoys fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
When planting in containers, place the container in a sheltered, sunny spot and water regularly.