Strawberry Runners - The Definitive Guide

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, if you're brand new to gardening and you have no clue where to start, or maybe you've tried to grow in the past and didn't get the results you hoped for, I have a FREE online class just for you. A self-paced, video-based class called my 5 Keys To A Successful Vegetable Garden. Completely free, online video lesson with a fun quiz at the end! Check it out here: courses.theripetomatofarms.ca/courses/5Keys Get growing TODAY!

[@Okunniger_Volker]

What if my strawberry plants (potted) are sending out huge amounts of runners (3-7 per WEEK) and the berries are small if they grow at all? Could it be due to over watering? My plants get 7-8hrs sunlight per day. I'm just trying to grow some berries, but the plants seem like they are on a mission to take over the world.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@Okunniger_Volker I've seen fertilizing with too much nitrogen cause excessive runner production. Also makes the berries small...

[@Okunniger_Volker]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms ahh. Is there any way to reduce nitrogen naturally? Maybe by adding wood chips?

[@gerrywaneck377]

My older strawberry plants have formed tubers. You didn't cover this in your video. Working with tubers is a whole different technique. I add fresh compost to the raised beds each year, as the older compost volume decreases. I have two beds, each being one meter wide by six meters long and 500 mm deep. I pull out all plants in the spring and select the healthiest ones. I'm also trying to expand a few varieties that produce strawberries late in the season, that have a heart shape. Most of the plants produce very sweet round fruit in early summer, before the runners take over. I don't do much with runners during the growing season, just when I pull the plants. I save the healthy tubers and established plants. I'll save all clones of the ones I'm expanding. After topping off the bed with fresh compost, mainly from horse manure, I replant the selected ones in a grid like pattern. Do you have any thoughts about this?

[@stevenharris6866]

Being a teacher myself, I want to commend you on your excellent teaching skills! Keep the lessons coming please!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey thanks Steven, that means a lot! Cheers!

[@michelleslifeonrepeat]

Thank you for this video. I learned so much. Now I know why my mother plant didn’t produce strawberries

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Michelle, thanks for watching. Best of luck with the next batch! 🙂

[@avermontlife]

We have about 100' of strawberry beds, we expand the runners, weed diligently, and mulch every spring. But as soon as they have begun to ripen and I see the jam that is to come, the squirrels come from miles around to raid. We've tried netting of various kinds, completely enclosed them, but the squirrels just laugh and laugh as they get through it all and feast in broad daylight. Next year we're going to invest in diy hardware cloth boxes with wooden frames. We are serious this time. I wouldn't go to this much trouble for any other plant, but I want my strawberry utopia and I'm going to have it.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ugghh...squirrels and birds. Raiders from above and from all sides! :-( You got this though! Let us know the progress!

[@KerriEverlasting]

Omg I feel this comment so much! I have pest trouble too 😂😂😂

[@ryanluepke]

A few 110 conibears baited with a strawberry or walnut and you won't have many squirrels left.

[@amandafarmer4284]

Do you have any owls you can set around them? We got two and mine are doing really good now .

[@olefosshaug5565]

Buy a cat or two

[@crystalglass1358]

Best KZbin guide to strawberry propagation! Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Crystal! That means a lot!

[@nic6754]

Brilliant video cuz. First time growing strawberries here and watching so many vids trying to get diffinative information. Finally! Thankyou! ❤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks for that Nic, means a lot. Best of luck with your berries!

[@OzzyUSA.]

Not sure what happened to my message, so sending it again. You are an amazing teacher. Love your slower method of explaining and pausing. Just amazing!

[@jewelweed7427]

My strawberry plants have runners all over the place. I never knew they were a drain on the mother plants. This video was a great help for me to better manage my strawberries! Thanks!

[@Kyaide]

Really appreciate the detail you went into about rooting them and showing the different wants to do it. Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Kyaide, glad you liked!

[@jlseagull2.060]

Same here. He did a great job for being informative👍

[@susannaylor451]

This has to be the best video on strawberries. This is my first year growing them and you have given me all the information I needed, and easy to understand. Great thanks 😊

[@kenbrown5217]

This is the most informative strawberry tutorial I have seen. I ended up building cages for mine because of squirrels! First year harvest cost about 50 cents per berry. Summer, heat, fungus, Florida. I'll get better soon. Thanks Ken

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Ken. Smart idea about the cages.....I've been lucky so far, but I know its only a matter of time before nature figures out how many berries are here, LOL! Cheers buddy. 🙂

[@kenbrown5217]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms let me know if you want photos of the cages. Is it possible to send them here?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@kenbrown5217 I wish... Not even on the community tab unfortunately

[@patriciatinkey2677]

I feel your pain, Ken! Florida can be brutal. Zone 10!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@patriciatinkey2677 definitely next level sometimes Patricia!

[@spookybaby1313]

What a frickin great video. I was just about to do this with my strawberry plants, they’re going crazy! Just needed a little jog of my memory but ended up knowing even more ways to plant the daughter plants! Thank you for such great informative videos! ❤

[@mitzimarquez2410]

This presentation is excellent 👍. Thank you so much for giving us all the information we need to grow beautiful strawberry 🍓

[@beckysharpe7268]

So many people don't realise that you can cut the runners off before planting, but I've always done planting that way. Now I use water too as a result of your advice.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@beckysharpe7268 yup, get them off the plant as soon as possible... They are just sucking energy away!

[@ohoulihoop]

Definitely have some work to do on my bed this week. Very informative video!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@ohoulihoop happy to help! Hope it's been a good year for the berries!

[@AJWGBFX]

I'm just about to root some strawberry runners and was going to leave them attached and pinned into pots. Having seen you demonstrate it I'm going to use your water rooting method instead. Thank you for the time and effort you repeatedly give to the production of your videos.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Try both if you can. Once you get the hang of it, its much easier to nip them off and root them elsewhere...but the pinned pot method is good too and ALWAYS reliable. I would say try both at first if you can. Let us know how it goes!

[@createnewhandleokwilldo]

Me too!

[@patriciatinkey2677]

Thanks Jeff! I had such a disappointing experience when I tried strawberries years ago, that I had never tried again! Now I could, with your great teaching! 🙂🙂🙂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I hope you do try again Patricia! :-)

[@queengigi7002]

Love it, "To reach that strawberry utopia, you've always dream off". That's me

[@louisehunter9121]

Strawberries are soooo clever 😍 can’t wait to get outside in the morning and start planting runners :) maybe that means next year I’ll get more strawberries :)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Strawberries EVERYWHERE Louise! :-)

[@ilovemelodyjane]

I fall asleep to his videos and then wake up at 5 am and put his garden tips to work. 🍓

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha oh no, I hope they aren't that boring!

[@anthonyamos4016]

A brilliant video , perfect in every little detail

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@anthonyamos4016 thanks Anthony, appreciate it man!

[@letsgrowveganic3889]

Thank you, that was a very well done video that was informative. I really like that you didnt rush it and even came back at the end to recap all the information. One day I may start doing videos too, and your channel is definitely an inspiration

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey thanks so much! You definitely should do videos on your passion. Let us know if you do, we'll check it out!

[@letsgrowveganic3889]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thanks, I really appreciate the kind words of encouragement. I'll definitely let you know if I do finally put something out there.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@letsgrowveganic3889 for sure, the more knowledge being spread around the better!

[@JD-72191]

Great information! Nicely presented and easy to understand.

[@OzzyUSA.]

You are a wonderful, wonderful teacher. Love the way you pause in between, using a slower method for those that really want to take in what you are saying. Your pause method is off the chart outstanding. I am mesmerized with the way you explain everything and just taking your time. thank you we appreciate YOU.

[@jackiecruz843]

2nd year of having strawberries, mine have multiplied since last year growing in other parts of the garden and some growing on my patio. Brilliant video, now i know what to do with mine. Its now july 1st and strawberries have all been picked. Thank you

[@ctndy]

Love your guides! Everything about this video is calm and informative. Thanks! :)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Cindy, really kind of you to say!

[@leslieh2945]

You are a great teacher and I find the close-ups helpful! I feel confident to go out and do this. Thankyou!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@leslieh2945 Thanks Leslie! Hope the garden is growing great this year!

[@flamingdonut9456]

Thank you. I've four plants, putting out two or three runners. Was going to save half, and compost the rest. This video came just in time, inspiring me to save them all!👍

[@Sethyfisher]

This video is SO helpful. Thanks man.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@Sethyfisher that's awesome Seth, happy to help!

[@shareen966]

This is an incredibly informative video...I have bene gifted some strawberry plants with me just coming back from vacation I was welcomed with my first runner! This has helped greatly

[@Solodolobbq]

Such a great video. Definitely informative.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@Solodolobbq thanks Brian, much appreciated!

[@ewendyfin]

You do a great job of teaching this subject. Like other commenters, I just needed a little reminder about the runner situation. Watching your video gave me so much more. Thank you and well done.😀

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks for saying that Wendy! Happy to help!

[@markharding6582]

This is one of the best videos on strawberry runners I have seen.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Mark, appreciate that man! 🙂

[@vickyannpaintingwithoils]

I finally have four thriving strawberry plants. Going to try and overwinter them in the bed they are in. Gathering as much of your info as possible.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Best of luck vicky!! :-)

[@idahomo8299]

What a great video!!! Exactly what I was needing to know and you explained it so well. Thank you!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! Glad to help!

[@marypat7196]

You are a great teacher. I like your close-up shots. For this reason I am subscribing for more knowledge. Thank you so much.

[@brittanyfuller8723]

Thank you for this new strawberry lesson. I’ve watched all your strawberry videos but I think this one might be the most helpful one yet 🥳. It’s been such an extreme summer here in south Texas that none of my June bearing varieties gave me any strawberries this year. The runners however have been abundant so in July I made the decision as a first time gardener to let them grow and expand my patch. Looking forward to seeing how many new plants we get. Thank you Jeff for the encouraging videos it really makes all the difference especially to a new gardener ☺️. I have a long 303 day growing season here but I’m excited to over winter my strawberries and see what next year will bring 🤞🥳🥰

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Brittany, appreciate the support! I hear you on the heat. Seems to be an issue everywhere, even way up north here. When it gets too hot like that, the plants just go into survival mode.

[@thisolesignguy2733]

Thank you for this!! I have everbearing & June berry plants that I grow every year. I've been just letting the daughter plants expand themselves out, but I couldn't figure out why my yield has been so low. Now I know!

[@christybauer7424]

Thank you so much! I don't think anyone else has explained it so well 😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers christy, hope it helps!

[@maryelizabethcalais9180]

Very thorough video! All productive time spent for learning and potential success gardening strawberries. Thank you; good teacher.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much. I appreciate the kind words and support! :-)

[@DrillerKillerTube]

Excelent guide, congratulations!

[@eunicemcdonaldknight4148]

Thank you so.much. I have runners but didn't know what they were for or what to do with them. Now I do. Grest video!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey thanks Eunice, and thanks for watching!

[@josiebridges3583]

Excellent tutorial, thank you very much.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Josie, thanks so much for watching! :-)

[@jenniferhahn7806]

I was looking forward to some runners this year, but my plants looked a little spent after the initial berries so I put them in a sunnier spot, hit them with some organic fertilizer and some copper/neem oil spray, and have been pruning the older leafs while it regrows new from the crown. I'm not even worried about getting more strawberries, although I see a few flowers.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yeah, some varieties are like that Jennifer. Some of mine just call it quits and won't send out runners, while a couple others will send out MORE runners the more spent they are. So weird! LOL

[@brianwhite9555]

Really appreciate the advice in this video. I overhauled a horribly overgrown and under-producing strawberry bed last fall and replanted 44 healthy parent plants back in the space, giving each plant at least 6" of room all around. The transplants took well before cold weather set in(zone 6). I was thinking I would remove all runners(stolons) from the plants as soon as I see them growing this year so all energy would go into producing blossoms and berries. Your advice reinforces my plan of action. :)

[@GottabKD777]

Perfect timing. Great video.

[@maryp2718]

This is a great video! Very informative. Thank you so much.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks Mary, and thanks for watching! :-)

[@BarristerMamun]

Thank you for the information

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Barrister, thanks for watching. 🙂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you're just starting out gardening in 2022, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening! pH/Water/Light Meter Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3yafmrV Amazon USA: amzn.to/3OKRW30 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3nvEIM4 Composting Tumbler! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39CgtYw Amazon USA: amzn.to/39Dha49 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3yLsKVf Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql Hand Pruners: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8 Watering Can: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YR3p94 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa Spray Gun: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z Gardening Gloves: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU

[@grimreaper8328]

Good job! Thanks.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@s.f.morris7331 thanks so much! Appreciate the support as always!!

[@ninclarke1357]

Brilliant presentation ❤️

[@karenbee1898]

Great info...my strawberry patch stopped producing and now I know why and how to make new plants.

[@lindad768]

Best instructional videos ever! Thank you so much!

[@2982cookie]

Your videos are always so very helpful. Thanks a bunch! ❤ 🍓

[@juliemcinnis3472]

Wow! The best tutorial and All about Strawberry Planting. Wish I viewed your video before I cut the runners 🥲

[@Aussiehomestead1965]

After trying every flower colour for the best strawberry it's the white flowered variety that seems to be the best quality.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Gotta grow with what works best for your garden! I've tried 18 varieties so far...I am undecided....but certainly some of the pink ones are more ornamental than tasty!

[@michaelburke4048]

I love strawberry runners. I had three pots on a deck at one point, strawberries in one and some annual flowers in the other two. When those two died back at the end of the season, the strawberry put out runners, but only in the direction of those two pots. Like somehow it knew where the soil was. I've never quite gotten over that concept.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha they really do seem to know where the soil is!

[@marat5617]

I appreciate you so much 😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Marat! :-)

[@barbarameyer649]

I did the paperclip thing before even seeing this! I am rooting a bunch of them to give to friends.

[@pwtrack09]

I'm so excited! I just got some strawberries and just found out about this and the strawberries that I have are not make any strawberries but it's making a lot of runners. I'm Excited to use them to make more strawberries to hopefully make a strawberry garden 😋 thanks this exactly what I was looking for

[@timothyshanley1132]

Moved about 20 runners yesterday after watching your video, thx for the wisdom. I did mess up one of my melon plants though, started in 5 gallon buckets they grew to size, I topped up soil, ugh and added fertilizer. I guess I e got to much, . One of the four plants died too much love, the others were a little shocked but seem to be ok

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

How's the drainage in the buckets Timothy? Often you can "wash" the nutrients out and save the plant if its not too late...

[@fancythat5136]

Good presentation on growing strawberries! I shall go cut the runners off and plant the excess. Thank You!

[@endermenkilla]

this is what im planning next! Never had my own strawberry plant before, good to know you gotta trim them hah. don't want my porch looking like a jungle

[@parvathitiruviluamala9870]

Very cute video. Thank you.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@parvathitiruviluamala9870 cheers!

[@debrabraz6258]

Great video! I learned so much. Thank you for sharing this!.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Debra! Happy to help!

[@speranza8494]

Excellent, thank you so much!

[@Nephro1]

Fantastic video!

[@carolinehawanga]

This video was very informative. I learned so so much. Thank you.

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

Great video. I really enjoy your video recaps at the end.

[@HenriKelleyGerwig]

Awesome video....thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks for watching! :-)

[@lisamarr9116]

You are a superb instructors!! Thank you!!!

[@wilsondavis1958]

Awesome informative video. Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Wilson! And thanks for watching!

[@Nancy-zk9dj]

My strawberries " quickly became problematic" Thanks for the great info. Planning for a better strawberry patch next season! 👍❤️👍

[@stephenschwab6410]

Great info! I've got much to do differently! Thanks much.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks, best of luck with your strawberries!

[@Godisgracious85]

Thanks for the video . My runners are vibrant and I had no clue how to properly use them

[@Mr_2Bad]

Best video i've seen yet on them. Ty very much.

[@SARAHILL-ps6th]

Awesome, well done thank you.

[@floridacritter]

only way my runners have survived and rooted was while connected to mother plant. cutting and placing in water/pots didn’t work for me. with your tips i will be trying those methods again, i think i see now where i was having issues. thanks for another great video :) also, love the idea with the paperclip! i have lost many runners this way too, they rooted but then shifted and roots would dry out. will be using the paperclip trick from now on.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Totally..and that's how it always happens. They root, send out delicate white roots, get shifted or moved and boom, runner is dead. Paper clip works darn near every time! :-) Best of luck!

[@omarvaldivia8297]

Just what I needed!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Omar! 🙂

[@happyhobbit8450]

Thank you that was very informative . . .I like the paper clip and leaving 1" of runner :)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! If you have the room for it, that's definitely the best method. :-)

[@dawnangela4364]

Thank you so much. I have a ton of strawberries now! 🍓🍓🍓

[@IsabelleIsabelle01]

I did not think of paper clips.. thanks for the tip

[@ninclarke1357]

Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@jiewang5175]

Thank you ❤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks for watching

[@marylourobinson2736]

You explained that soo well thank you very much !

[@Inpreesme]

Thank you

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Kevin, thanks for watching!

[@57ashdot]

@9:00 another method I use with small pots are clipping a binder clip to a side of the pot, then using garden wire tied to the clip posts and around the stem to firmly anchor into place.

[@adriennemeager297]

Amazing thank you 😁

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@adriennemeager297 cheers Adrienne, thanks for watching!

[@VeganDoris]

I started with 2 Junebearing strawberry plants last year and I swear there are probably over 100 plants this year! I did nothing to intentionally propagate them. They have taken over half of a garden bed so I’ve been digging up plants and giving them away.

[@gkambs]

Thanks, good stuff

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@juliemcinnis3472]

Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Julie, you're too kind!

[@reneethomas5548]

Thank you! I have a lot of runners.

[@gardenofglory8275]

I'm trying with mine it's the first time for me hope I'll be successful with them

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Fingers crossed! :-)

[@SupremegreenlawncareLLC]

This was a great video!🎉

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[@thehealingauthor3215]

So much information thank you

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching!

[@loranelizabeth9148]

EXCELLENT LESSON! One question, if you see this: I read that the mother plants weaken with age, and should be removed. Is that true? And THANK YOU AGAIN!!

[@taylorshomestead3934]

Brilliant! Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@truthernewstalkstrangeshoc132]

Thank you 👩🏽‍🌾❤️🌞🪴

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks for watching! 🙂

[@NanditaBharadwaj]

thank u🙂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers!

[@VaultDwellerGal]

Berry cool!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I see what you did there..... :-)

[@AwoudeX]

Every other year i'll catch the runners and put em in pots so they grow directly in them. I''ll pull out all the old plants after they've given me enough new plants from the runners and replant a bed of strawberries on a different spot. The 3rd year is the first year when the production of strawberries drops again, because of the age of the plant. Not sure why that is, but i suspect the old woodlike roots start to have more and more difficulty making fresh roots especially after winter in the spring.