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Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca ‘Semperflorens’) are a great addition to any fruit garden, especially in small ones. With their small, fragrant, sweetly flavored fruits they make a neat and attractive edging for any flower border or vegetable plots. Their fruits can be round or long, red or white, depending on the cultivar, but all of them are well flavored. They also grow well in containers.
They are more tolerant than most other strawberries. They will tolerate cooler conditions and will prefer a place in partial shade in the summer in warm areas. This is because of their origin which is in the woodlands. Although the crop is not as heavy as for strawberries, the alpine strawberries will bear fruits from midsummer through to late autumn. Eat them fresh or use in drinks or jellies.
They will need a bit of attention because the plants will deteriorate after about two years if not propagated. To keep your plants supply make sure you propagate them regularly from either seeds or runners. Collect the seeds from ripened fruits. To separate the seeds from the fruits, leave the strawberries to dry and them squash them gently between finger and thumb. The seeds will fall off. Hold the fruits over a clean container while doing this so you can collect the seeds easily as they are quite small.
Sow the seeds in pots filled with standard seed compost. Use 6 cm pots for this. Sprinkle the seeds thinly on the surface of the compost then cover them with a thin layer of compost and a layer of fine grit. Place the pot in a place with temperatures of 18-24 Celsius degrees (64-75 F). When the seedlings will have two true leaves prick them out. Plant out young strawberries plants in early summer in their final position in your garden or in pots.
