Our first exploration of white strawberries was WHITE SOUL on August 23 2015 in soil.
In 2017, we learned how to grow in a liquid base, and began new exploration using KRATKY hydroponics method.
This post is a rewrite of the journal from 2015 to compare notes between soil-based and KRATKY, non circulating hydroponic.
The latter’s setup looked something like this, in self-contained reservoirs from ordinary used commercial jars.
WHITE SOUL (2015)
Germination was very fast, only 6 days.
Seeds were sowed on August 23 after freezing overnight and they germinated on August 29.
Not all white varieties germinate within the same length of time (less than 10 days), some varieties were slower, about 14 days.
Please check out germination method at this post.
New methods utilizing heat and light while balancing with cool in natural environment was developed in 2018 for speedier germination.
This method is only taught in our workshops.
For most cool seasoned plants, including lavenders, now used the balancing act to germinate.
2018 – 7 days to germinate
The germination time was about the same for soil-based or hydro White Soul variety.
In these observations, the seedlings were very small compared to red varieties.
FREEZING LENGTH (Seeds)
We also experimented in 2015 whether seeds that had been frozen longer would make any improvement on the speed to germinate seeds.
A second batch was sowed on October 16, 2015, after freezing over a month, and they germinated on October 21, 5 days later.
Thus, the length of (seeds) freeze did not make much difference.
OBSERVATIONS
Whether sowed on soil or another medium, the seedlings are very small and frail compared to the red strawberries.
They are very delicate plants and transplant process was difficult.
Young seedlings have a very low survival rate when we tried them in 2015.
The risk of failed seedlings increased with every transplant.
TIP – DO NOT TRANSPLANT TOO MANY TIMES
This variety may be difficult for a beginner gardeners to attempt.
Every stage can be a challenge without prior knowledge of growing them from seeds and how to troubleshoot when symptoms of stress appeared.
Much of what we learned from growing this variety formed the formation of our workshop’s curriculum on the challenges and how to resolve them.
The heirloom characteristics of the red stem showed by the third week.
At this stage, the roots were about 1 cm long.
We transplanted most of the soil-based seedlings before the crown developed.
The growth rate of this medium was slower than liquid-based plants.
Among the white varieties, White Soul grew the slowest.
OBSERVATION – PLANTS LOOK THE SAME AS RED VARIETIES
In soil, they often die without warning.
The leaves drooped and brown after being transplanted.
We learned the most insights by growing this delicate variety.
Seedlings in liquid base grew faster compared to soil-based.
Knowledge of how to settle the seedlings and hydro nutrients is necessary to grow them in liquid base.
Not all nutrients are suitable.
Trial and error experiments to get our KRATKY formula right.
2 months old seedling was only 10 cm tall.
RATE OF GROWTH – Height, New Leaves
Were slower compared to other varieties, especially from germination to third month.
In soil, this variety was an uphill challenge at a snail pace at every stage.
In liquid base, they grew faster even without any high technology conveniences.
However, without prior handling experience of strawberries or/and no hydroponic knowledge, they are difficult to grow.
Whether soil or liquid base, this variety remained slow and small compared to red varieties.
They tolerate morning sun and early afternoon heat well from the fourth month.
More growth was observed from 4th month.
ABOUT RAIN
Not heat but rain killed young White Souls seedlings on January 18, 2016.
This trial tested whether they could adapt to natural environment without shelter from heat and rain.
Thus 30 plants were sacrificed for this test and planted in 60 L of natural compost outdoor.
From pioneer batches of 30 seedlings,
only one seedling survived this experiment.
OBSERVATION – YOUNG WHITE SOUL SEEDLINGS CANNOT TOLERATE RAIN
ABOUT HEAT
At the height of our hot months, White Soul variety suffered stress from heat.
The entire plant drooped like this.
Removal from stress source will revive these plants.
In soil, icing down soil relieved the plants.
It is not recommended to grow the white soul outdoor.
PLANTS STRESS SIGNAL
Our first exploration in 2015, in soil, was not successful.
All the flowers dried up and the plants seem in poor health.
From this experience, we learned how to read strawberry plants’ signals and what were they telling us before rushing to apply a remedy.
A wrong remedy adds more stress to plants already in distress.
For example, adding fertilizer can kill stressed plants.
ABOUT LEAVES
White Soul leaves like most other white varieties are lighter green and thin texture.
A healthy plant showed open-faced leaves and not cupped as illustrated by the above picture.
ABOUT FLOWERS
Soil-based White Soul enter the flowering stage at 8 months, whereas Kratky was 4 months.
In White Soul, the initial flowers may not turn into fruits.
Most dried up.
Even with the best bee at work! 🙂
Liquid-Based plants enter the flowering stage at around the 4th month.
ABOUT FRUITS
Typical of white strawberries, White Soul turning into fruits from pollinated flowers took about 3 weeks to fully form.
The first flush of flowers may not turn, thus we learned to prune off rather than keeping on the plant.
Trimming off encourage more buds and fruits to form better on the next round.
The fruits start oddly shaped and fill up later.
OBSERVATION
Fruits size are small
Not uniformly shaped
White flesh outer and inner
Musky scent and taste, mild
Flesh soften very quickly
White Soul variety provides a good learning experience for immediate level strawberries gardeners because they are challenging.
Overcoming their constant pitfalls in our natural environment enables us to handle any type of strawberries.
Learn about other challenges of growing white strawberries in our climate here!
The plant remained small compared to other varieties, but fruit production can be vigorous.
Strawberries Seeds are available for sale in SHOP .
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