Strawberry plants employ a specialized biological strategy for expansion by producing horizontal stems known as stolons, commonly called runners. These structures are a form of asexual reproduction, allowing the plant to clone itself and colonize the surrounding area. The fundamental purpose of a runner is to produce genetically identical new plants, often referred to as daughter plants. Understanding how to identify and manage these runners is necessary for gardeners aiming to control patch size and maximize fruit production.
Visual Identification of Strawberry Runners
Strawberry runners are easily recognized as thin, elongated shoots that emerge laterally from the main plant’s crown, which is the central growing point. These stems are typically leafless or have only vestigial leaf structures and display a light green or sometimes reddish-green coloration. They extend horizontally over the soil surface, a growth pattern that immediately distinguishes them from vertical growth structures.
As the runner grows, it develops specialized points called nodes along its length. These nodes are the sites where a new plantlet, the daughter plant, begins to form. The daughter plant initially appears as a tiny cluster of leaves and, upon contact with moist soil, will begin to develop adventitious roots.
The runner acts as a physical lifeline, transporting nutrients and water from the established mother plant to the developing daughter plant until the latter can sustain itself. The length of a runner can vary significantly, often extending one to two feet away from the original plant before a daughter plant takes root. Identifying the plantlet at the end of the shoot, which looks like a miniature version of the parent, confirms the structure is a runner.
Distinguishing Runners from Other Plant Structures
A common point of confusion for new growers is differentiating runners from other growth emerging from the strawberry crown, particularly flower stalks. Unlike the horizontal and slender runner, a flower stalk is significantly thicker and grows vertically from the center of the crown. The flower stalk is designed to support the weight of developing buds and fruit, resulting in a more rigid structure.
Flower stalks terminate quickly in a cluster of buds that will open into white or pink flowers, whereas runners are leafless and feature only the tiny plantlet at the node. New leaf growth also emerges vertically from the center of the crown. Leaf stems, or petioles, are generally thicker than runners and immediately develop the characteristic trifoliate structure, meaning they have three leaflets.
The trajectory of the stem is the most reliable feature; runners arch out and away from the plant, moving along the ground to find a new rooting spot. Conversely, leaf stems and flower stalks are focused on upward growth. Observing the growing tip for either a developing leaf structure or a flower bud can quickly resolve any uncertainty.
Managing Runners for Plant Health and Propagation
The decision to manage runners depends entirely on the gardener’s goal: maximizing fruit yield or expanding the number of plants. Allowing runners to grow requires significant energy from the mother plant, which can lead to smaller fruit size and reduced overall harvest. For this reason, many growers of day-neutral or everbearing varieties remove all runners as soon as they appear.
When the priority is fruit production, removing runners redirects the plant’s stored energy back into the crown to support flower and fruit development. A clean, sharp pair of scissors or shears should be used to snip the runner close to the mother plant. This simple action helps maintain the vigor of the main plant for the current season’s yield.
Runners provide a simple and economical method for propagation, allowing the creation of new plants that are clones of the parent. To propagate, select a healthy runner and guide the node with the developing plantlet onto a small pot filled with soil or directly into an open garden spot. The plantlet can be secured gently with a bent piece of wire or a landscape staple to ensure good soil contact.
Once the daughter plant has established its own root system, typically in four to six weeks, the runner connecting it to the mother plant can be severed. This creates an independent new plant ready to be moved or left in place. This is a common practice for renewing an aging strawberry patch every few years. It is best practice to limit the number of runners kept for propagation to about four per mother plant to prevent excessive energy drain.