In 2017, we began a new exploration of white wild Alpine strawberries varieties in KRATKY (passive hydroponic) method.

These varieties are not common commercially and too fragile to ship, thus we had to grow them from seeds.

We were keen to grow them out of curiosity because their taste profiles were described as intensely aromatic.

Most are sweet with different variants of interesting flavors, such as pineapple, cotton candy, rose syrup, or caramel.

As we explored more widely and tasted the fruits of our labor, we discovered not every white (or yellow) strawberry carried this special taste.

Now we understood why some growers classified the special ones as “gourmet” and others as “common”.

Seeds prices were higher and sources to buy were more limited with the gourmet range.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in KRATKY
Strawberries without soil

 

True white strawberries belonged to 2 main groups –

Alpine (Fragaria Vesca, originated in Europe)

Beach (Fragaria Chiloensis, originated in Chile, also known as South American or coastal strawberries)

 

 

Both the alpine and beach strawberries are wild species.

White strawberries are white because they lacked the protein FRA a1 which made red strawberries red.

People who are allergic to red strawberries have no problems eating white strawberries because of the absence of this protein.

An example of white strawberries sold in ISETAN (Japanese shopping store) on January 8, 2016.

It is not far fetched to sell fifteen pieces of gourmet white strawberries for Singapore $200, about USD $150.

 

 

Photo : Joyce Ho, January 8, in Isetan (Japanese Supermarket)
Photo : Joyce Ho

 

After growing our own wild white strawberries since 2016, we now know that these supermarkets’ strawberries are likely hybrid.

Heirloom wild strawberries are typically small and soft flesh.

Once harvested, they are unlikely to last a day.

What they lacked in size, these varieties more than compensate with their aromatic intense flavor and unique taste.

A sought after and commercial popular white hybrid variety is Pineberry (white flesh, red seeds), a cross between Fragaria and Ananassa varieties.

This cannot be grown from seeds, as Pineberry is a cultivated hybrid, thus please do not buy pineberry seeds online.

 

List of some Wild Alpine White varieties –

Krem

Pineapple Crush

White Delight

White Giant

White Solemacher

White Soul

 

 

We started our exploration in 2015 with WHITE SOUL variety in soil and then late 2017 liquid base.

 

2018

With the experience gained from Pineapple Strawberries (yellow varieties) in 2016 and 2017, we had more confidence to try more white strawberry varieties.

On January 20, we sowed four new types and they germinated on January 26 after 6 days, using a new germination method.

One of these new varieties belonged to the gourmet category with a taste profile of caramel and pineapple.

These seeds are no longer on sale.

 

Grow white strawberries in Singapore
2018 January 27 – so tiny

 

Hands-On Learning to pin down the proper system to grow strawberries without stress!

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
So Tiny

White strawberries varieties are considerably smaller and slower to grow than the common red varieties.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 April 27 – 80 days old

 

And like children, they grew up too.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 July 2

 

During months where there is insufficient sun, we began to use these full spectrum grow lights for our indoor gardens.

 

How to grow strawberries from seeds indoors in Singapore
2020 January 2

 

White strawberries have the characteristics of red stems of normal red garden varieties.

From germinating through growth stages here, we are breeding them in a natural SG environment.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 July 15

 

Our hope is to grow more varieties of white strawberries and built a portfolio of gourmet hydro plug-ins for household gardeners and high tech systems.

Some of our seeds collected over the years are no longer available for sale internationally.

 

 

A Comparative journal from USA, with Regina Fok

To collect growth data on white strawberries from our seeds.

Her seeds germinated in 9 days in an indoor environment of 23C.

This is similar to SG white strawberries’ observation.

Her seedlings started small and fragile too.

 

Grow white strawberries from seeds
2016 April 8

 

White Soul strawberries from seeds
2016 May 21 – 2 months old

 

Grow white strawberries from seeds in Singapore
White strawberries variety from SG Strawberries seeds

 

The size of first harvest fruits is the same as ones grown in tropical Singapore.

 

Grow white strawberries from seeds in Singapore
White strawberries are alpines

 

As there is not much information available on white strawberries in our tropical zone, we are hoping to record more data as we grow them in our blog.

 

THE UNEXPECTED CURVE BALLS  (CHALLENGES) 

White strawberries are by far, one of the most difficult to start from seeds.

However, the more challenges they present, the deeper we learned how to grow them.

Whether in high tech systems, Kratky (liquid base), or soil, this knowledge is invaluable.

We collect this data to establish a recovery SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for gourmet white strawberries varieties because seeds and plants are now scarce to our region.

With this variety, we experienced how every part of the plant can “break away” and how to save them when it happened.

The following is a list of challenges for growing white strawberries plants out of their natural zone.

 

Leaves Wilt

 

Grow White Soul strawberries from seeds
Wilting Leaves

 

White strawberries are extremely delicate and fragile.

Transplanting them need extra care.

The leaves suffer rot easily, thus its a good idea not to get the leaves wet and stay wet.

Surviving seedlings are slower to grow.

They become hardy after the fourth month.

Roots Separation

The roots sometimes dropped off for no reason.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 August 02

 

With limited roots, a strawberry plant can still stand upright.

They also recovered fast with the right remedy.

Sign of successful recovery is first more roots mass and then new leaf growth from the crown (the midsection of the plant).

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 August 2 – Root-less

 

It is possible to regenerate new roots when this happened for hydroponic plants.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 August 28

 

 

Crown Separation

The strawberry top can break away from its crown. like this.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2019 February 28

 

In the past, when this happened, it would ring a death knell for this plant.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
Separated from Crown

 

Crown can root with proper care.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
Tiny root part

 

With recovery SOP, now we could recover these plants as long as they were healthy before the separation.

It took 7 days for new roots to show.

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2019 March 05

 

Once on the mend, roots gained mass quickly.

This was the progress between March 5 to the 14th.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2019 March 14

 

A clear signal from recovered plants is when new leaf showed at the crown and color returned to the stem.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
Color + New Growth

 

This plant showed flowers in May 2019.

 

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore
5 – 7 fruits on single brunch

Grow White Strawberries from seeds in Singapore

 

 

Fruits of our labor

Uphill battles won!

Finally, we harvested fruits from February 2018 plants!

We are always grateful for these small fruits after so many trials at every stage.

 

Grow white strawberries from seeds
2018 Aug 01 – Caramel + Pineapple

 

Grow white strawberries from seeds in Singapore
2018 August 01 

 

Grow white strawberries from seeds in Singapore
Seeds harvest

 

Do check in to our SHOP for seeds or net-cups!

Seedlings had to be pre-ordered due to limited space.

 

Grow gourmet strawberries
Bulk Delivery of hydro plugs

 

With the compilation of 2 years of strawberries growth data in our tropical zone, we discovered new ways to grow them better.

Future strawberries will be breed this way, with zero carbon footprint, yet tough enough to fruit in a natural environment.

In addition, our hydro seedlings can be easily plugged in high tech systems or standalone in Kratky.

 

 

White Strawberries Notes –

  1. Perennial plant
  2. Heavy feeder, need Phosphorous and Potassium like most strawberries
  3. Minimum 6 hours light, prefers shade over full sun
  4. Well-drained loamy soil
  5. Moderate watering preferred drip irrigation
  6. Temperature not above 29 degree Celsius 
  7. More delicate seedlings than red varieties
  8. Fruits were slower to develop in a natural environment
  9. Suffered heat stress more often, not recommended outdoor
  10. Pineapple scent permeates the whole plant during the fruiting stage
  11. Mature plants are 6 – 8 inches tall, Width 10 – 12 inches across
  12. Suitable for USA zone 4 – 8 (For reference, Singapore is beyond Zone 13 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 thoughts on “White Strawberries”

  1. WHOAA!! white strawberry from japan available in SG? that’s rare. you should (oh no, you must) take the seeds. have you ever try to grow garden strawberry (fragaria x ananassa) from seeds before?

    1. HI,

      Update – White Soul was successfully grown (to fruit on time) in 2018.

      2017 – White Soul was not successful. This variety was from the States. We succeeded with the Heirloom Pineapple strawberries, yellow color. And yes, seeds from them are viable. Their seedlings are acclimatized to SG weather. We are hopeful that this new generation will begin Singapore’s alpine strawberries gardening. Yes, last year we grown and harvested red strawberries variety.

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