Can you plant runners from strawberries? How to root and replant them

Yes. You can plant runners (daughter plants) from strawberries by pegging each plantlet into soil or a small pot while it stays attached to the parent, keeping the compost slightly moist, then severing and transplanting once it has rooted with the crown set at soil level (RHS: How to grow strawberries).

What a runner is and why rooting before cutting works

Strawberry runners are stolons that produce plantlets at nodes. These daughter plants form adventitious roots where they touch soil, creating a clone of the parent. Guiding and pegging runners so the node sits in compost lets the plantlet root securely before you detach it (Strawberry Plants: Propagation by runners).

When to root runners

In temperate climates, late summer is an ideal time to propagate from runners so new roots establish before winter. You can also plant cold-stored runners in spring to early summer if you buy them then (RHS: How to grow strawberries). Perpetual (everbearing) types often produce fewer runners, and some alpine strawberries may not produce runners at all (RHS: How to grow strawberries).

Where to root them: bed vs pot

You can root runners directly in a prepared bed or in small pots set beside the parent plants. Using pots makes lifting and spacing easier and avoids crowding a bed; the RHS method places 9 cm pots filled with peat-free multi-purpose compost next to the parent, pegs a runner node into each pot, keeps compost slightly moist and severs when rooted (RHS: How to grow strawberries). If you’re working in containers, see our explainer on compost vs soil in pots for what to fill them with.

Step-by-step: root and replant a strawberry runner

Plant: Garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). Conditions: full sun and well-drained soil or a free-draining peat-free potting compost (RHS: How to grow strawberries).

• Choose a runner from healthy parent stock, with a small cluster of leaves at a node.
• Fill a 9 cm pot with peat-free multi-purpose compost and set it beside the parent plant. Make a shallow depression in the compost (RHS: How to grow strawberries).
• Lay the node onto the compost and peg it down with a U-shaped wire so it stays in firm contact. Keep the compost slightly moist while roots develop (RHS: How to grow strawberries).
• Check that the daughter has formed its own roots, for example by inspecting the small pot’s root development without pulling it apart. Gentle resistance can be a clue, but wait for a sufficiently rooted plant before cutting the connection (Tyrant Farms: Grow strawberries from runners).
• Transplant to its final spot. Set the crown exactly at soil level, not buried or raised. Planting too deep risks crown rot; too shallow dries the plant out (RHS: How to grow strawberries).
• Water to settle soil and keep the surface around the crown clear of mulch to avoid rotting (RHS: How to grow strawberries).

Aftercare and common mistakes

• Moisture: Keep newly planted daughters evenly moist during establishment, but avoid wetting the crown and fruits to limit fungal problems. Water in the morning so surfaces dry quickly (RHS: How to grow strawberries).
• Mulch: Use dry organic matter (like straw) under fruits in beds once they form, and keep mulch off the crown. For containers, see our guide to adding mulch to pots and how to keep it clear of the crown (RHS: How to grow strawberries).
• Spacing and crowding: Don’t let too many runners root in one spot; remove extras to prevent overcrowding and maintain plant vigor (RHS: How to grow strawberries).
• Crown depth: Never bury the crown. Level with the soil surface is correct at planting (RHS: How to grow strawberries).

Root a strawberry runner today

• Fill a 9 cm pot with peat-free multi-purpose compost and set it beside the parent plant
• Peg a runner node onto the compost with a U-shaped wire so it stays in firm contact
• Keep compost slightly moist and check actual root development before detaching
• Sever the runner and plant the daughter with the crown exactly at soil level
• Water in and keep mulch from burying the crown or trapping standing water

FAQ

Do all strawberries make runners?

Not all. Perpetual (everbearers) often make fewer runners, and some alpine strawberries don’t produce runners at all; alpines are commonly raised from seed (RHS: How to grow strawberries).

Can I let runners root in the bed instead of pots?

Yes. You can allow runners to root into gaps to renew a row, then lift and replant or leave them to replace older plants. Many home growers also peg into small pots for easier lifting and spacing (RHS: How to grow strawberries; SimplySeed: Runners on Strawberry Plants).

When exactly should I cut the runner?

After the daughter plant has its own roots. A light pull that doesn’t lift the plant is a practical indicator it’s ready to be severed (Tyrant Farms: Grow strawberries from runners).