Now that I am basically starting from ground zero on my garden, I am being super diligent about getting the most out of everything I’ve planted. The strawberries that I planted this spring are starting to send off runners, and I plan to make the most out of every one of them. I am pulling up each runner and replanting them on their own. Not only does it increase the size of my strawberry patch, it’s actually healthier for the main plant–it isn’t providing nutrients to extra leaves, when it should be using them for fruit.I have always been kind of obsessed with planting all of my runners {even if it means supplying neighbors with their own strawberry patch}, so rather than re-invent the wheel, I thought I’d go through one of my previous how-to’s for transplanting strawberry runners:
If you have never replanted strawberry runners before, it’s simple.
First, find where the runner has laid down roots. Basically, just gently lift the plant up until you see where it is connected to the ground {how’s that for putting it simply?}
Carefully lift up the strawberry runner, leaving the roots intact. I use a garden spade to loosen the soil around the root and lift it out of the ground. You will be keeping the runner attached to the “mother” plant for now–that sounds like a space ship scenario.
Place the roots in a 3 inch container and cover with moist potting soil.
Leave potted runners where they are for about 6-8 weeks, watering as needed. When the roots are well established, snip the runner about 6″ from the “vine” and move to the desired planting area. Remove from the pot, plant new strawberry plants and cover lightly with straw or leaf litter until spring, to protect the new strawberry plants.
The following spring your new strawberry plants should emerge and you’ll be able to enjoy strawberry desserts all summer long. Wahooo… Three cheers for fresh strawberries that actually TASTE like strawberries.
~Mavis
P.S. Did you know you can actually BUY strawberry seeds? Has anyone ever grown strawberries from seed before? I haven’t, but I’m curious about it.
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
TinyHomestead says
I have started strawberries from seed. It takes about 4 weeks for them to sprout and another few for them to something you can see without squinting. These plants are very fragile. If they soil dries out at all, you will suffer casualties. It takes about 2 years to get strawberries and 3 for a decent amount of berries. If you can be patient, you will save money in the looong run. However, using runners seem to be the way to go!
Mavis says
Thanks for the tips and advice!
Mrs. Chow says
I grew some asparagus from seed this year, and it took about 8-10 weeks for them to sprout. I thought the experiment was a failure, but because the pots were in with other seedlings, I just kept watering them. One day, I thought I saw something, squinted and looked up close, and there it was – a tiny, and I mean TINY, asparagus spear! Like the strawberries, they take forever and you can’t let the soil dry out. So, why do this? Because some varieties of asparagus are rare in the US and prized, e.g., by French chefs, and some strawberries, e.g., alpine strawberries, are supposed to be really, really good, and very hard to get unless you grow them from seed.
Of course, I have the Mavis Disease, which causes me to turn into garden centers and spend money, especially if I see a deal. In other words, a plant nut. Sigh.
Mavis says
The Mavis disease. Ha. Love it!!
Mrs. Chow says
I just double checked and the asparagus seeds are Precoce D’Argenteuil Asparagus from Baker Creek.
MerryMouse says
I had volunteer strawberry plants come up where I had thrown some squishy strawberries to the chickens! I couldn’t believe it! Not the greatest soil and I didn’t even water the area but when transplanted into the raised beds they grew just fine. They were the “Tri-Star” variety. Bear from June to September. I usually do as you did, Mavis. Boy, I am really enjoying your website!
Renay says
I have alpine strawberries in my yard, little native guys. When my son was little, he would follow me around as I worked in the garden and eat the strawberries. They were small, so perfect for little hands. So cute!
Michele Crawford says
Yes I have planted seeds. They were the Fraise de Bois (Fruit of the Woods–don’t you love that name?),
and they germinated muy pronto and produced small but HIGHLY fragrant and delicious little berries,
way beyond the normal strawberry. I got the seeds from Nichols Nursery in Albany, Oregon.
clare says
Could you not just let them root where they are and then cut the runner from the main plant after those same 6-8 weeks? I want to grow the patch I have… not replant elsewhere. Is there a flaw in this logic?
Ginger says
That’s how I’ve always done it and had success. I’d never heard of planting them in little pots and then waiting 6-8 weeks to cut them from the mother and then replant until reading this post. That seems like too much work for me. =)
Carol says
I planted seeds of Fraise de Bois strawberries at a former house, and a plant snuck into my new home’s garden, tucked in with something else and unseen at the time. That was 20 years ago, and now I have Fraise de Bois in most of my borders and beds. The plant is attractive (to humans and bees) and bears continuously for me from early summer to fall. Tiny, fragrant, delicious berries with a taste unlike any other; doesn’t run but self-seeds freely.
Diane says
Has anyone clipped a runner and encouraged it to root in water? I garden in a community garden plot and think that visitors would not leave the small rooting pots alone. This year my plants are running like crazy. I just discovered that I broke my foot and at the apex (one of Mavis’ vocabulary cards :>) of the season. I.AM.MORE.THAN.BUMMED. Anyway, I may give this a try as I’m banished from the garden for a bit.
Richard says
I grew strawberries from seed a few years ago but these were more “alpine” strawberries than your standard grocery store type. Tiny – but full of flavor – and I got fruit for roughly 9 months of the year! Even in December I was able to harvest some – though being smaller harvesting takes time!
As your previous commenter mentions above the seedlings do take time to get going, but I had a (small) harvest in my second year.
Now I rely on runners like yourself as they seem to mature (and fruit) much quicker – and with the number of plants I have I spent several hours last weekend potting up dozens of the little fellas. Should be a good year in 2016 with all these new youngsters 🙂
diane says
I’m always potting up strawberry runners. If I can’t use them, I sell them at my garden gate! It all helps pay for more gardening stuff. 🙂
TinyHomestead says
Please explain more about this “garden gate.” Is it an on your honor set up?