Planting Strawberry Runners | A Complete Guide to Growing More Strawberries for Free

Introduction: Grow Your Strawberry Patch for Free

Strawberries are one of the most rewarding fruits to grow in any garden — sweet, juicy, and perfect for picking fresh from the plant. But did you know that once you have a few healthy plants, you can expand your crop for free using runners?

Strawberry runners are natural offshoots produced by mature plants. With just a little guidance, you can root them, transplant them, and enjoy a bigger harvest each year — all without spending a penny on new plants. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to plant strawberry runners, when to do it, and how to care for them as they grow into strong, productive plants.

1. What Are Strawberry Runners?

Strawberry runners, also known as stolons, are long horizontal stems that grow out from the base of a mature strawberry plant. Each runner can produce new baby plants, called plantlets, which root into the soil and eventually become fully independent strawberry plants.

Most strawberry plants will send out runners during the summer months, especially after fruiting. Left alone, they’ll spread across your bed or container — but with a bit of help, you can guide and plant them exactly where you want.

2. Why Use Runners to Grow More Strawberries?

Using runners is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to grow strawberries.

Benefits include:

• It’s completely free
• Ensures genetic consistency (especially useful for reliable fruiting varieties)
• Allows you to replace older plants (which decline in productivity after 3–4 years)
• Lets you fill new beds, baskets, or containers
• Keeps your strawberry patch self-sustaining

Runners are nature’s way of giving you bonus plants — and they’re incredibly simple to propagate.

3. When Is the Best Time to Plant Strawberry Runners?

The best time to root and plant strawberry runners is late summer to early autumn (typically August to early September in the UK).

This gives the new plants:

• Enough time to root and establish
• Cooler, moist conditions for strong growth
• A head start for fruiting the following year

You can also plant runners in spring, especially if you’ve overwintered them in pots or kept them protected during colder months.

4. How to Identify Healthy Runners

Look for long, vine-like stems growing from the base of your plant. Healthy runners will have:

• One or more leafy plantlets attached to the stem
• Small white root nubs at the base of each plantlet
• No signs of disease, mould, or pest damage

Each runner may produce 2–3 plantlets spaced along its length. The plantlet closest to the parent plant usually roots the strongest.

5. Preparing to Plant Strawberry Runners

You’ll need:

• A sharp knife or scissors
• Small pots with multipurpose compost (if rooting off the plant)
• Wire pins, hairpins, or garden staples (optional)
• A watering can
• Labels (if growing different varieties)

You can either root the runners in place, or pot them up before transplanting. Potting gives you more control, especially if you’re expanding into new areas.

6. Step-by-Step: Planting Strawberry Runners in the Ground

Here’s how to root and plant strawberry runners directly into the soil:

1. Choose a healthy runner with a strong, leafy plantlet.
2. Prepare a planting hole near the runner in well-drained, weed-free soil.
3. Pin the plantlet down into the hole so the root node touches the soil.
4. Cover lightly with compost and firm gently.
5. Keep the runner attached to the parent plant until the plantlet has fully rooted.
6. Water regularly and keep soil moist but not soggy.
7. After 3–4 weeks, check for resistance when tugging the plantlet — if it resists, it’s rooted.
8. Cut the runner from the parent plant once rooted.

Let the new plant continue growing in place or transplant it to a new location after a few more weeks.

7. Step-by-Step: Planting Strawberry Runners in Pots

If you prefer to root runners in containers, follow these steps:

1. Fill small pots with fresh, moist compost.
2. Place the pot next to the parent plant.
3. Position the plantlet in the centre of the pot, ensuring the root node touches the soil surface.
4. Secure the runner in place with a staple or hairpin.
5. Water gently and place in partial shade.
6. Keep attached to the parent plant until rooted (usually 3–4 weeks).
7. Once rooted, cut the connecting runner.
8. Grow on in pots or transplant to the garden in autumn or spring.

Potting runners is ideal for sharing with friends or planting in a different area of the garden.

8. Best Soil and Site Conditions for Strawberry Runners

Strawberries thrive in:

• Full sun (at least 6 hours a day)
• Well-drained soil enriched with compost or organic matter
• Neutral to slightly acidic pH (pH 6.0–6.8)
• Raised beds, containers, or hanging baskets

Avoid replanting strawberries in the same spot for more than 3 years to reduce disease risk. Rotate beds or refresh containers with new compost.

9. Watering and Feeding Newly Planted Runners

After planting, keep the soil consistently moist to encourage strong root development. Avoid letting the soil dry out or become waterlogged.

Once the runners are rooted and growing:

• Apply a general-purpose fertiliser every 4–6 weeks during the growing season
• Mulch around the base with straw or compost to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Remove any flowers that appear in the first year to allow the plant to focus on establishing roots

10. Overwintering New Strawberry Plants

If you’ve planted runners in late summer or early autumn, they’ll need a little care over winter.

• In the ground: Add a layer of mulch or straw to protect the crown from frost.
• In pots: Move to a sheltered area (cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or next to a wall) and avoid waterlogging.
• Don’t feed over winter — resume in spring once new growth begins.

By next spring, your new strawberry plants will be ready to fruit.

11. When Will Strawberry Runners Produce Fruit?

Most strawberry runners planted in summer or early autumn will:

• Establish in their first year
• Begin fruiting the following summer

You can expect a small harvest in their first fruiting season and full productivity by their second year. If planted in spring, they may fruit lightly in their first season, especially if grown in a greenhouse or warm spot.

12. Tips to Keep Your Strawberry Patch Productive

• Replace plants every 3–4 years to maintain strong yields
• Remove old or woody crowns
• Limit each plant to 2–3 runners to avoid exhausting the parent plant
• Label new plants if you’re growing multiple varieties
• Rotate beds every few years to avoid soil-borne diseases

By replanting runners regularly, your strawberry patch stays vigorous, productive, and well-managed.

13. Common Problems with Strawberry Runners

Runner problems include:

• Weak rooting – usually from dry soil or poor contact with soil surface
• Disease transfer – avoid using runners from diseased plants
• Too many runners – which can drain energy from fruiting
• Overcrowding – thinning runners ensures better growth

Choose the strongest, healthiest plantlets and remove excess to concentrate energy.

Conclusion: Expand Your Strawberry Harvest the Easy Way

Planting strawberry runners is one of the simplest ways to grow more fruit without spending a penny. It’s a fun, rewarding process that helps you maintain a strong, healthy strawberry bed year after year.

With a little time and attention, these small offshoots become full-sized fruiting plants — giving you bigger harvests, beautiful garden displays, and the satisfaction of growing your food from your own garden stock.

Top 10 FAQs: Planting Strawberry Runners

1. What month do you plant strawberry runners?

August and September are ideal in the UK. Spring planting also works if runners are overwintered or kept in pots.

2. Should I remove runners from strawberry plants?

If you’re not propagating new plants, yes — removing runners helps the parent plant focus on fruiting. Keep 1–2 for propagation if needed.

3. Can I plant runners in spring?

Yes — if they were rooted or potted up in autumn or winter. Just ensure they’re hardened off and planted after frost risk passes.

4. How long do strawberry runners take to root?

Typically 3–4 weeks, depending on weather and soil conditions.

5. Do strawberry runners produce fruit?

Not immediately. Runners need a full season to establish before fruiting the following summer.

6. Should I remove flowers from new runners?

Yes — removing first-year flowers helps the plant focus energy on root and leaf development.

7. Can I grow runners in hanging baskets?

Yes — use trailing varieties and plant rooted runners into baskets for a decorative and productive display.

8. How many runners can a plant produce?

Some plants produce up to 5–7 runners. It’s best to remove excess and focus on 1–2 strong plantlets per plant.

9. Can I use runners from supermarket plants?

Yes — but make sure the plant is disease-free and grown in good soil.

10. How long do strawberry plants last?

Most stay productive for 3–4 years. Replace with rooted runners to keep your patch going strong.