Would you want to know about the benefits of strawberry seeds? Based on my experience, The primary phenolic acid of strawberries is ellagic, and its content in the seeds is ten times higher than in the pulp.
Tiliroside is another important polyphenol present in strawberry seeds.
It showed anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperglycemic, and antidiabetic activities. Other Benefits of Strawberry Seeds: Strawberry seeds offer many different skin benefits.
Thanks to their high natural acid content, they help clean and tighten your pores.
They can also rejuvenate your skin and reduce puffiness around the eyes. But that is not all; however, as you read further, I will educate you more on the subject matter.
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Now, let’s get started.
What Are The Seeds Of Strawberries
As already mentioned, the seeds of the strawberry are botanically speaking nut-like fruits, so-called achenes. They are found on the skin of the strawberry and can be used for generative reproduction.
The fruit’s skin is peeled off thinly and dried to obtain the seeds. If the whole fruit is ground instead, there is a risk that it will start to rot.
When the strawberry seeds are dry, they can be sown in June or July. It is advisable to place a few seeds in a pot.
This is ideally filled with a 1:1 mixture of sand and a high-quality, low-nutrient sowing soil such as our Plantura organic herb and sowing soil.
The loose structure and low nutrient availability ensure optimal root growth. The strawberry seeds are only thinly covered with the soil mixture, as they are light germinators.
The optimal germination temperature is between 15 and 18 °C in a warm, humid climate. This can be achieved using a plastic cover or cling film.
Germination is more successful, especially in midsummer, if the pot is not in full sun and is better protected from drying out.
Germination takes about 2 to 4 weeks. When the seedlings have developed about three leaves, they can be separated and planted in more nutrient-rich soil.
No seeds should be sown later than the end of July, as the young plants must be a specific size to survive the winter well.
Overwintering is possible outdoors – you can also protect the young plants with fleece, brushwood, or straw.
Sowing in spring is possible, with monthly strawberries producing fruit as early as July. With other types, the first harvest takes place the following year.
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Are Strawberry Seeds Good For You
Raw strawberries contain 91% water, 8% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and negligible fat. Strawberries contain a modest amount of essential unsaturated fatty acids in the strawberry seed oil.
Although seeds comprise only about 1% of the total weight of a fresh strawberry, they contribute 11% of the total polyphenol in the whole fruit.
The phytochemicals in strawberry seeds include ellagic acid, ellagic acid glycosides, and ellagitannins.
Strawberry seeds have a high content of dietary fiber (around 55%), which aids in digestion and helps maintain bowel regularity.
Fiber also promotes a feeling of fullness, which can benefit weight management.
While the protein content of strawberry seeds is relatively low, they still provide a small amount of plant-based protein essential for building and repairing tissues in the body.
Strawberry seeds also contain antioxidants, including vitamin E and phenolic compounds. These antioxidants help protect the body against oxidative stress and may have anti-inflammatory effects.
Moreover, the seeds contain various minerals, including manganese, copper, and magnesium.
These minerals are essential for multiple bodily functions, such as bone health, enzyme activity, and energy production.
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What Is The Purpose Of The Seed On A Strawberry
The “seeds” you see outside a strawberry are the plant’s ovaries called “achenes.” Each “seed” is technically a separate fruit with a seed inside it.
Despite all this confusion about strawberry seeds, most strawberries are not grown from seeds!
Tiny strawberry seeds are a source of fiber, which is essential for health.
It ensures proper peristalsis of the intestines, lowers cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood and reduces the risk of certain types of cancer.
Can You Take The Seeds Off Of A Strawberry And Grow Them
You can grow the seeds into strawberry plants. Please wait until the strawberry becomes very mushy and dry its seeds.
Strawberries are frequently grown from bare-root seeds that have developed and grown into roots, which are easier to start in a garden.
However, starting strawberry plants from seeds is possible as well; it just takes longer, and specific steps must be followed to ensure the best growth.
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How Many Seeds Does A Strawberry Have On Average
With just one strawberry, you get around 100 seeds and can sow and harvest the nuts yourself.
The process is very similar for the different fruits. Below, I will explain how to proceed, using the strawberry as an example.
Although strawberry seeds are not delicious, they contain many nutrients your body needs and can be eaten confidently.
Strawberry seeds contain 52.3% dietary fiber, 14.5% protein, 17.9% fat, and minerals such as calcium, zinc, selenium, manganese, magnesium, copper, strontium, iron, and sodium.
The fat of strawberry seeds is mainly composed of unsaturated fatty acids.
Unsaturated fatty acids can regulate blood lipids, reduce blood viscosity, lower cholesterol, and benefit cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
In addition, strawberry seeds contain a lot of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber can improve intestinal flora, promote gastrointestinal motility, keep the intestines open, and eliminate toxins and garbage.
Growing strawberry plants yourself:
Cut a fully ripe strawberry in half to get the seeds and dry it. Placing the cut side on the newspaper is best – this speeds up the drying process.
Once the strawberry is dry, the seeds can be easily scraped off with the handle of a spoon.
The best time to sow is mid-February to March. If the seeds are sown too early, the plants will not grow sufficiently.
Sowing too late will delay the harvest time until the following year. If you need to store the seeds for a while to wait for the optimal harvest time, you should store the seeds in a dark and dry container.
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Are Strawberry Seeds Suitable For The Skin
Strawberries are consumed worldwide, and their seeds are eaten with the whole fruit.
Defatted strawberry seeds are rich in protein, dietary fiber, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals but have low sodium content.
Strawberry seeds provide a great deal of other benefits for the skin as well. Their high natural acid levels will help clean and tighten your pores.
They can also rejuvenate your skin and reduce swelling around your eyes. In addition, strawberry seeds are great for cleaning and exfoliating.
The seeds can work as gentle exfoliants that remove dead skin cells without causing damage or redness.
Because of this, strawberry seeds are also commonly found in natural body scrubs as they will keep the skin clean and exfoliated, all while making it smell great.
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Final Thought
Now that we have established the benefits of strawberry seeds, strawberries ideally stay in the same bed for three years.
In the year they are planted, they can already produce good yields, depending on when they are grown.
The ever-bearing varieties, such as the Elan variety, are particularly advantageous, as they have a long harvest period from June to October.
So, Sow the seeds thinly, pressing the seeds into a moist potting medium in seed starter trays, and barely cover the seeds with growing mix.
Place the tray under grow lights, as strawberries need light to germinate. Allow several weeks for germination. Be patient: seeds may germinate anywhere from 7 days to 6 weeks.