TheNaturePlanet

Growing strawberries at home allows you to easily multiply from one pot to many and achieve strawberry self-sufficiency through proper propagation methods.


Strawberry runners are crucial organs for vegetative propagation. Each mother plant typically sprouts 3–4 runners, with each runner capable of孕育 (producing) 3–4 or more new seedlings. March is the peak flowering and fruiting period for strawberries, during which newly sprouted runners should be promptly removed to prevent nutrient competition with fruits and avoid affecting fruit development. From April to May, after fruit harvesting ends, runners should be retained to create conditions for propagation.


During this stage, daily maintenance must be strengthened:
- Keep the potting soil "见干见湿" (moist but not waterlogged), avoiding waterlogging or excessive drought.
- Place the plants in a well-lit area, ensuring 6–8 hours of sunlight daily.
- Regularly supplement with decomposed organic fertilizer or balanced compound fertilizer to provide ample nutrients for runner growth.

As runners elongate, seedlings with 2–3 true leaves will gradually emerge, forming white aerial roots at the leaf bases—indicating the seedlings are preliminarily ready for transplantation.


When runner seedlings develop 3–4 robust roots and complete root systems, transplantation can be carried out in two main ways:


#### 1. Cut-Then-Plant Method
- Directly snip mature seedlings from the runners and transplant them into new containers.
- Protect root integrity during transplantation. After planting, water thoroughly with root-fixing water and place in a shaded area for 3–5 days of seedling recovery.


#### 2. In-Situ Fixing Method
- Use U-shaped garden clips, toothpicks, or similar tools to press seedling roots directly into the soil of nearby empty pots.
- After roots fully integrate with the new potting soil and grow stably, cut the seedlings from the runners. This method significantly improves seedling survival rate and reduces recovery time.