Strawberry runners are the plant’s natural method for asexual reproduction, allowing them to expand the patch by creating genetically identical clones. While this natural tendency is useful for propagation, managing runner production is necessary for home gardeners focused on maximizing the size and sweetness of their fruit harvest.
Understanding Strawberry Runners
A strawberry runner is a specialized stem that grows laterally from the central crown of the mother plant. This process is influenced by plant hormones, which promote the necessary stem elongation. As the runner extends, it develops nodes, and a small, new plantlet forms at the end of the stem.
This plantlet, or daughter plant, develops its own roots when it makes contact with the soil. Since it is a direct vegetative offshoot, the daughter plant is a clone of the mother, making this an efficient method for the plant to colonize new territory.
Why Runner Removal Increases Fruit Yield
The decision to produce a runner diverts valuable resources away from fruit development. Runners function as “sink organs,” demanding a continuous supply of energy (carbohydrates) from the mother plant. This energy would otherwise fuel the growth of berries and the formation of flower buds for the next season.
Allowing runners to proliferate results in reduced fruit yield and smaller berries because the plant is splitting its limited energy budget. By removing these stolons, the gardener forces the plant to redirect all available energy back into its reproductive structures. This focused energy allocation leads to a stronger central crown and the development of larger, higher-quality fruit.
Precise Timing and Technique for Trimming
Timing by Variety
The best time to trim runners depends on the specific variety of strawberry. For June-bearing varieties, which produce one large crop in early summer, remove runners as soon as they appear throughout the spring and early summer. This aggressive removal should continue immediately after the harvest when the plant enters its renovation phase, ensuring maximum energy is stored for the following year’s crop.
Everbearing and day-neutral varieties, which produce multiple, smaller harvests throughout the season, require consistent runner removal throughout the entire growing period. In the first year of planting, it is often recommended to remove all runners and flowers until mid-summer to establish a strong root system before allowing the plant to fruit.
Technique
To perform the cut, use a sharp, clean tool, such as hand pruners, scissors, or a knife. A clean cut minimizes damage to the mother plant and reduces the risk of introducing disease. The runner should be snipped as close to the crown of the mother plant as possible, without nicking the crown itself. Inspecting the strawberry patch weekly is the simplest way to ensure runners are removed early, preventing them from draining resources and overcrowding the bed.
Propagating New Plants from Runners
While many runners are removed to conserve energy, they can be used to easily expand the strawberry patch. Select a few vigorous, healthy runners from disease-free mother plants for propagation. The most common method involves choosing a plantlet with visible root nodules and pinning it directly into the soil or into a small pot filled with potting mix. A U-shaped piece of wire or a hairpin holds the plantlet firmly in contact with the moist soil while the runner remains attached to the mother plant.
The runner serves as a lifeline, supplying the daughter plant with water and nutrients for the first four to six weeks while it develops its own independent root system. Once the plantlet has established new leaves and strong roots, the stem connecting it to the mother plant can be severed.