Fresh, homegrown strawberries are a delicious treat that can be enjoyed all summer long. But did you know that you can easily grow new strawberry plants from runners? Runners are the long, trailing stems that strawberry plants produce. They can be easily propagated to create new plants, which will start producing fruit the following year.
Growing new strawberry plants from runners is a great way to expand your strawberry patch without having to buy new plants. It’s also a fun and rewarding project that you can do with kids.
What You’ll Need
- Strawberry plants with runners
- Potting soil
- Pots or trays
- Watering can
- U-shaped staples or wire
Instructions
- Choose a healthy strawberry plant with several runners.
- Gently pull a runner away from the parent plant.
- Look for a node on the runner. A node is a small bump that indicates where a new plant will form.
- Place the runner in a pot or tray filled with potting soil.
- Use a U-shaped staple or wire to secure the runner to the soil.
- Keep the soil moist.
- In a few weeks, you should see new roots forming on the runner.
- Once the roots are well-established, you can cut the runner from the parent plant.
- Plant the new strawberry plant in a sunny location.
Tips
- You can plant strawberry runners in the ground, but they will take longer to establish themselves.
- If you live in a cold climate, you can overwinter your new strawberry plants in pots.
- To encourage more runners, fertilize your strawberry plants with a balanced fertilizer in the spring.
- Water your strawberry plants regularly, especially during hot, dry weather.
Troubleshooting
- If your strawberry runners aren’t rooting, make sure the soil is moist. You can also try using a rooting hormone.
- If your strawberry plants are getting leggy, they need more sunlight.
- If your strawberry plants are getting pests or diseases, treat them immediately.
Conclusion
Growing new strawberry plants from runners is a simple and rewarding project. With a little care, you’ll be enjoying fresh, homegrown strawberries in no time.
Here are some additional tips for growing new strawberry plants from runners:
- Choose a sunny location for your strawberry plants. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- The soil should be well-drained and fertile.
- Amend the soil with compost or manure before planting.
- Space the plants 12-18 inches apart.
- Water the plants regularly, especially during hot, dry weather.
- Fertilize the plants with a balanced fertilizer in the spring.
- Mulch around the plants to help keep the soil moist and suppress weeds.
- Protect the plants from pests and diseases.
With a little care, you’ll be enjoying fresh, homegrown strawberries from your own plants in no time!