Cloning strawberry plants is the standard practice for both home gardeners and commercial growers. This method, also known as asexual reproduction or vegetative propagation, creates a new plant that is genetically identical to the parent. Unlike growing from seed, cloning ensures that desirable traits, such as flavor, size, or disease resistance, are maintained. This process is highly efficient because strawberries naturally reproduce asexually, making it a reliable way to quickly expand a patch.
Natural Propagation Through Runners
The most common and natural method of cloning strawberries is through specialized stems called runners, or stolons. These long, horizontal stems emerge from the base of the mother plant, usually after the main fruiting season concludes in late spring or summer. The runner extends along the soil surface until it reaches a node, which develops into a new plantlet.
At this node, the plantlet forms a cluster of leaves and adventitious roots. These specialized roots anchor the new clone and allow it to absorb nutrients independently. While rooting, the plantlet remains physically attached to the mother plant via the runner, receiving water and resources for support.
To assist rooting, gently pin the plantlet’s node onto a pot filled with soil while keeping it attached to the mother plant. This encourages the plantlet to develop a robust root system in a contained environment for easy transplanting. Once the plantlet has developed three to four leaves and a visible mass of roots (approximately four to six weeks), sever the runner with clean scissors. This fully rooted clone is then ready for transplanting elsewhere in the garden.
Manual Cloning by Crown Division
Another reliable method for cloning strawberries, especially useful for rejuvenating older plants, is manual crown division. The crown is the short, thickened stem located at the soil line, where the leaves and roots meet. As a strawberry plant ages, the crown expands and develops multiple growing points, often becoming woody and less productive after three to four years.
To perform a division, carefully dig up a mature, healthy plant, preserving the root ball as much as possible. After brushing away excess soil, identify the separate growing points that have formed around the original crown. These multiple crowns can be gently teased apart by hand or carefully cut with a clean, sharp knife.
Ensure that each separated segment, or division, has its own section of roots and a cluster of leaves attached to the crown tissue. Divisions lacking a good root system may struggle to establish themselves when replanted. The process of division helps prevent the original plant from becoming overly dense and unproductive, yielding multiple younger clones from one older specimen.
Purpose and Timing of Strawberry Cloning
Cloning is performed primarily to ensure genetic fidelity, meaning the new plants are exact copies of the desirable parent, preserving traits like specific berry sweetness or disease resistance. This method is far more reliable than planting seeds, which produce plants with unpredictable characteristics due to cross-pollination. Cloning also saves money, as gardeners can continually refresh their stock without purchasing new plants every few years.
The timing of your cloning efforts is important for success. Runner propagation is best done in late summer or early fall, immediately following the main harvest period. At this time, the mother plant naturally shifts its energy from fruit production to sending out runners. The newly rooted plantlets then have time to establish themselves before the onset of winter dormancy.
Crown division is most effectively carried out during the dormant season, typically in early spring or late fall. Dividing plants when they are not actively growing minimizes shock and stress. This timing allows the new divisions to focus their energy on developing a strong root system before the demands of the next growing and fruiting season begin.