Learn the Perfect Methods to Multiply Strawberries Easily! Discover our Top 3 Foolproof Strategies to Cultivate an Abundance of Juicy Berries at Low Cost!
Propagating strawberries is a simple and rewarding process that allows you to multiply your strawberry harvests and create more plants. There are several methods to propagate strawberries, including division, runners, and seeds.
Propagating by Division
Wait until early spring when new growth emerges as distinct clusters of leaves from the base of the plant, indicating multiple crowns. Here's how to divide a strawberry plant:
- Water the plant well the night before dividing to hydrate the roots.
- Draw a circle 2-3 inches away from the crown to mark the digging area.
- Dig down about 6 inches and lift the entire crown and root ball from the soil.
- Cut the root ball into two or more sections, making sure each division has a small crown and 6-12 roots.
- Remove excess soil and replant each division in holes so that the crowns are about 0.5 inch below soil level, with leaves and stems above soil.
- Cover the crowns loosely with soil and add 2 inches of mulch to protect from temperature changes.
- Keep the newly divided plants well watered, and apply a slow-release strawberry fertilizer at the start of flowering next season.
These divisions should establish new strawberry plants that flower and fruit the following year.
Propagating by Runners
Runners are the long, wiry stems growing from the main plant with daughter plants growing out of them. To propagate strawberries by runners, separate the runners from the main plant and plant them in a suitable growing medium.
- Cut plants that are 2.5-4 inches (6-10cm) long from base to end, including about 0.5 inch (1.3cm) of the runner stem.
- Plant the root bumps and bit of runner into the cell, keeping the crown above the media.
- Cover the cells with a plastic dome and mist often, the runners should root within 5-10 days.
Propagating by Seeds
Propagating strawberries by seeds is possible with wild strawberries or heirloom varieties, but not with hybrid cultivars. To propagate by seeds, prepare a seed tray with a mix of three parts peat and one part organic soil, plant the seeds, and keep them well-watered.
Seeds may require cold treatment or stratification before planting. Seeds from online seed companies like Alexandria Seeds from Hirt's Gardens or Fresca from Cemeha, both available at Walmart, can be used for propagation.
Remember to add a good slow-release strawberry fertilizer at the start of the new flowering season and fertilize with a 10-10-10 fertilizer every other week after rooting.
Growing strawberries at home can provide a better taste compared to store-bought strawberries. Knowing how to propagate strawberries allows for the multiplication of harvests and creation of more strawberry plants.
[1] This method is especially used when there are no runners available for propagation and is effective in cultivating sweet strawberries from existing plants.
- Cultivating home-grown strawberries through division offers the opportunity to expand your crop and create more plants, with new plants blooming and fruiting a year after the division process.
- Propagation by taking and planting runners from your strawberry plants allows for easy multiplication of your home-and-garden harvest and can lead to a bountiful home-garden lifestyle.
