A strawberry runner is a specialized horizontal stem that grows outward from an established mother plant. This is the plant’s natural method of asexual reproduction, allowing it to create genetically identical clones, known as daughter plants, at nodes along the stem. Using these runners is a highly effective way for gardeners to propagate new strawberry plants. By transplanting these new plantlets, you can efficiently expand or renew your strawberry patch with plants guaranteed to have the same desirable traits as the parent.
Defining Strawberry Runners and Their Growth Cycle
A runner is a slender, vine-like stem that emerges from the central crown of the strawberry plant and runs above the soil surface. Where a node on this runner touches moist soil, it develops adventitious roots, establishing a new, independent plantlet. Strawberry plants typically prioritize fruit production first, with runner formation increasing later in the season after the main harvest is complete. This growth pattern shifts the plant’s energy from reproductive effort to vegetative expansion, allowing the mother plant to spread its presence in the growing area.
The Fruiting Timeline: When to Expect a Harvest
The timing of your first harvest from a transplanted runner depends heavily on the strawberry variety and when the runner was planted. The general rule is that runners planted this year will produce a harvest next year. This delayed fruiting is necessary because the young plant must dedicate its first year’s energy to developing a robust crown and a strong root system. Without this establishment, the plant will not have the energy reserves needed to support a fruit yield.
June-Bearing Varieties
For June-bearing varieties, which produce a single crop over a two to three-week period, runners planted in the spring or late summer will not fruit until the following spring. These varieties form their flower buds for the next season during the short days of late summer and early fall. The newly established runner must be settled into its permanent location by this time to initiate flower buds for the following year’s harvest.
Everbearing and Day-Neutral Varieties
The fruiting timeline differs for everbearing and day-neutral varieties, which produce fruit throughout the summer and into the fall. If a runner from one of these varieties is planted early in the spring, it may produce a small amount of fruit in the late summer of the same year. This initial yield is modest, as the plant is still prioritizing root and crown development over fruit production. A full harvest for these types is still expected in the second year of growth.
Essential Care for Newly Established Runner Plants
Planting Depth and Initial Watering
Successful establishment of a new runner plant begins with proper planting depth. The crown must be planted precisely at the soil line, with the roots fully buried but the crown exposed. Burying the crown can lead to rot, while leaving the roots exposed can cause them to dry out quickly. Immediately following planting, thorough watering is necessary to settle the soil around the developing roots.
Moisture and Fertilization
Consistent soil moisture is necessary during the initial establishment phase, as the young plant’s shallow root system is susceptible to drying out. The soil should be kept uniformly moist but not waterlogged to encourage rapid root growth. Using a well-draining soil rich in organic matter helps maintain this balance. While excessive nitrogen should be avoided as it encourages more vegetative growth, a balanced, low-concentration fertilizer application after the plant has rooted can support healthy development.
Maximizing Future Yields Through Runner Management
Deblossoming
To ensure high fruit production in the second year, the initial management practice is deblossoming, which is the removal of the first year’s flowers. By pinching off any flowers that appear in the planting year, you redirect the plant’s energy away from immediate, small fruit production and into developing a larger, more vigorous crown and root system. This action builds the plant’s capacity to support a higher-quality harvest the following season.
Managing Runner Density
Managing subsequent runner production is also necessary for long-term patch health and yield optimization. While runners are the plant’s natural way to spread, allowing all of them to root can lead to overcrowding. Overcrowding results in competition for water and nutrients, reduces air circulation, and increases the risk of fungal diseases. For June-bearing varieties, which are typically grown in a matted row system, allow only a controlled number of runners to root to maintain a row width of 18 to 24 inches.
Renovation Practices
For day-neutral and everbearing varieties, which are grown in a hill system, it is common practice to remove all runners completely to focus the plant’s energy solely on fruit production. Regular renovation practices, typically done immediately after the main harvest, help maintain the patch’s productivity. This involves mowing the foliage, thinning older plants, and managing the density of new runners to ensure the patch remains productive for several years before a full renewal is needed.