To keep strawberries from "running" (producing excessive runners, or stems that sprout new plants), you primarily need to manage their growth through pruning, thinning, and proper care.
Here's a breakdown of methods to control strawberry runners:
Methods to Control Strawberry Runners
1. Regular Pruning: Clipping Runners
- Why it works: Strawberries expend energy producing runners. By clipping them, you redirect that energy into fruit production.
- How to do it: Use sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors to cut the runners as soon as you see them emerging. Cut them as close to the mother plant as possible.
- Frequency: Monitor your strawberry plants regularly (at least weekly) and clip runners as needed.
2. Strategic Runner Management (Matted Row System)
- Why it works: In the matted row system, runners are allowed to fill in the rows, but need to be controlled to prevent overcrowding.
- How to do it: Allow a few runners to establish new plants within the designated rows. Once the rows are sufficiently filled, remove any further runners.
- Thinning: If the rows become too dense, thin out the plants to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of disease.
3. Eliminating Excess Runners Through Thinning
- Why it works: Thinning reduces competition for resources, promoting healthier plants and better fruit yield.
- How to do it: Remove excess daughter plants that have rooted from the runners, especially if your strawberry bed is becoming overcrowded.
4. Trimming Established Runners
- Why it works: Even if you allow some runners, you can still trim them back to control their length and spread.
- How to do it: Use pruning shears to shorten the runners, preventing them from reaching into unwanted areas.
5. Proper Soil Management
- Why it works: Maintaining healthy soil and preventing weeds reduces the need for the strawberry plants to send out runners in search of nutrients.
- How to do it: Add mulch to the soil around your strawberry plants. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and enrich the soil as it decomposes. Consider rototilling mulch into the soil.
6. Adequate Fertilization
- Why it works: Nutrient deficiencies can cause strawberries to send out more runners in an attempt to propagate and find better growing conditions.
- How to do it: Use a fertilizer specifically formulated for strawberries, following the instructions on the label. Apply fertilizer in the spring before fruit production and again after the harvest.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage strawberry runners, ensuring a healthy and productive strawberry patch.
