The Crafty Cultivator

Since the garden is in a state of instability this year, I didn’t start anything from seed. No tomatoes, no herbs… Nothing. In May, at the height of not knowing where we were going to end up, I stress started ALL the strawberry seeds I had in my seed stash. I figured that at least I would have some baby plants to tend, and I could plant them out at my Dads in the summer if I needed to.

I had 3 packages of seeds that I have bought on a whim over the last couple years. I started them in old Chinese take out containers that I saved for this exact purpose. I used seed starting mix, but there was also some old potting soil mixed in as well. In two of the containers, I started other seeds too. I did some Munstead Lavender in one, and some really old Lavatera seeds that my grandma had saved for me from around 2010. (I didn’t really expect any of them to germinate, but they all did within like 3 days… I planted them in a container at my Dad’s)

• ‘Mignonette’
  • Fragaria vesca
  • “The petite berries turn deep red when the yare fully ripe, with sublime flavour. This alpine strawberry is ever-bearing, so it produces over a long period in spring and summer. The plants are upright and compact, and perfect for patio containers. OP” – West Coast Seeds.
  • These are similar to the Yellow Wonder strawberries I have, and I am glad I finally got around to starting them so I have more Alpine strawberries.
  • History: This is an improved version of an heirloom variety called ‘Reine de Valle’
• ‘Fresca’
  • Fragara ananassa
  • “Big, mouthwatering traditional market-style strawberries. This perennial, everbearing variety should produce in the first year, and will eventually yield heavily over a long season. Flowering begins four weeks earlier than other varieties. OP” – West Coast Seeds
  • As I have started these quite late in terms of strawberries from seed, I don’t expect them to produce this year, especially as our season is very short, But I do think they will do well next year if they can make it through winter.
• Red & White Mixed
  • Likely Fragaria vesca
  • “Small, fantastically sweet berries; Unusual mixture of red and white fruit; Often fruits in first year, perfect for pots.” -Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds

I have always wanted to make a batch of strawberry jam completely from strawberries that I have grown. This is a goal that had slipped my mind until I became a mom. Now I REALLY want to make a batch of strawberry jam for my son from strawberries that we have grown together.

At this point in growing, they all have their first set of true leaves. I will keep them going in these containers until they are a little bigger, and then I will likely pot them up into 4″ pots to carry on until I get a strawberry bed set up. If I don’t get this done before winter, I will sink all the pots of strawberries I have into the soil and cover with leaves that fall from the trees, as well as shoveling snow ontop to help protect from temperature fluctuations that are common here with Chinooks.