A Berry Easy Way To Propagate

Ruth uses strawberry runners to make some new plants

- Ruth Hayes

This spring the strawberry plants in the spare ends of a raised bed have provided us with a generous, sweet and juicy crop. They’re so good that I have vowed to get more plants for next year.

But why spend money – even though they can be bought for pennies – when you can make your own for free?

Each summer, strawberry plants throw out runners – long overground roots with a tiny tuft of new leaves at the end or sometimes mid-way along.

If left alone, the mini plantlets on the runners will quickly take root by themselves, but it is worth potting them up so you can plant them where you want them to grow. Healthy plants will throw out many runners, even though it takes up a lot of energy to do so. Unless you are getting rid of the plant at the end of the season, it is best to propagate from a maximum of five runners.