Guide on Multiplying Strawberries Using Runners
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Learn how to create a thriving strawberry planter using runners, a simple and effective method for expanding your strawberry plants.
To get started, gather your materials:
- A soil mix of three parts compost to one part sand
- Healthy strawberry runners, each with one or more leaves
- U-shaped staples or pieces of wire for securing the runners
- Pots filled with multi-purpose compost
- A watering can and mulch for maintaining moisture and suppressing weeds
Step 1: Preparing the Runners
Choose the best runners and place them on the surface of the compost in the pots. Secure each runner using a u-shaped staple or a piece of wire to maintain soil contact.
Step 2: Encouraging Rooting
Keep the soil moist to encourage rooting, which usually takes a few weeks. As the new plants develop, you'll notice small plantlets at the ends of the runners.
Step 3: Establishing the New Plants
Once the new plants have strong roots, cut the runners from the mother plant. Continue to care for the new plants by watering, fertilizing, and mulching.
Step 4: Planting and Transplanting
You can now plant the rooted plants into larger pots or out into prepared ground. Wait until the plants are firmly rooted before snipping off the stem connecting them to the parent plant.
Tips and Tricks
- Keep the compost moist at all times during the rooting process.
- This method can help ensure a plentiful crop in future years.
- Clearing away straw or matting now can lead to more plants and a bumper harvest next summer.
- Monty Don offers a helpful video guide for raising new strawberry plants from runners.
- To discourage slugs and snails, don't snip off the stem connecting the new plant to its parent until it has developed strong roots.
Expand your strawberry plants successfully using this method in both garden beds and containers. Raised beds or planters filled with good-quality soil amended with compost provide excellent growing conditions. Hanging baskets are also a space-saving option, keeping strawberries off the ground and potentially reducing pests.
Happy planting!
In the process of developing a thriving strawberry garden, consider expanding your strawberry plants by implementing home-and-garden gardening techniques such as propagating new plants using runners. Raising additional plants from runners will enrich your lifestyle by ensuring a plentiful home-grown strawberry crop, both in your garden beds and in containers, including hanging baskets.
