Strawberries are known for their vibrant red color and sweet taste. Tiny specks on their surface, often called seeds, are integral to the fruit’s appearance. These components hold a significant role in the strawberry’s biology and reproduction. Understanding what these specks truly are provides insight into this popular fruit.
Understanding Strawberry “Seeds”
The familiar red part of a strawberry is an “accessory fruit,” an enlarged part of the flower called the receptacle. The actual fruits are the small, dry, seed-like structures embedded on its outer surface, known as achenes.
Each achene is a simple, dry fruit containing a single seed, distinct from a true seed because its hardened fruit wall does not adhere to the seed. The fleshy part we consume develops from the flower’s receptacle, while the achenes are the true botanical fruits, each originating from a separate ovary within a single flower. A typical medium-sized strawberry can have around 200 achenes.
Detailed Appearance of Strawberry Seeds
Strawberry achenes are very small, typically measuring between 1 and 2 millimeters. Their shape varies, often appearing oval, teardrop-shaped, or kidney-shaped. These tiny structures have a slightly ridged or pitted texture, contributing to the characteristic bumpy feel of a strawberry’s surface.
Their color ranges widely depending on the strawberry variety and ripeness. They commonly appear in shades from pale yellow to light brown or tan. Some varieties might have green, white, or reddish achenes when fully ripe. As the strawberry ripens, the achenes often darken. Each achene is firmly embedded in a small depression on the strawberry’s surface.
Growing Strawberries from Seeds
While the “seeds” on a strawberry are botanically achenes, each containing a single true seed, it is possible to grow new strawberry plants from them. This method is not as common as propagating strawberries through runners, which are horizontal stems that produce new plants. Growing from achenes can be a more challenging and time-consuming process.
Plants grown from achenes, especially from hybrid varieties, may not produce fruit identical to the parent plant due to genetic variation. The process involves cold stratification, which mimics winter conditions and helps break seed dormancy. After stratification, achenes are sown on the surface of a moist seed-starting mix, as they often require light for germination. Germination can take several weeks.