strawberry · Asked on Instagram · 3 November 2026
Why do strawberry runners need to be removed from the mother plant?
Strawberry runners are like little baby plants that steal energy from the mother plant. Remove most of them if you want bigger, better fruit, or let a few root if your goal is to make new plants.
The question
“Does anyone know why these runners need to be removed from the mother strawberry plant? 🍓”
What's likely going on
Those long stems with small plants on the end are runners (also called stolons). They’re how strawberries clone themselves.
The mother plant sends a lot of energy, water and nutrients into making and feeding these baby plants. That energy could otherwise go into flowers and fruit. So:
- If the goal is lots of berries now, runners are usually cut off.
- If the goal is more plants for next season, a few runners are encouraged to root, then cut from the mother once they’ve made their own roots.
From the photo, the plants look healthy; this is a question of energy use, not a disease or problem.
What to do
Decide your priority
- Want bigger harvests from the existing plants? Plan to remove most runners.
- Want to multiply plants? Keep a few strongest runners per plant.
For more fruit now
- Use clean scissors or pruners to snip runners close to the crown (the thick base of the plant).
- Do this regularly during the growing season as new runners appear.
For new plants
- Peg or place the baby plant at the end of a runner onto soil in a pot or nearby bed.
- Keep the soil moist until it grows its own roots (tug gently after a couple of weeks).
- Once rooted, cut the runner stem between the mother and the baby.
Aftercare
- Water well and give a light feed so the mother recovers and the new plants establish.
How to prevent it
You can’t stop strawberries from trying to make runners, but you can:
- Grow varieties bred to make fewer runners (often called day-neutral or everbearing types).
- Stay on top of trimming through the season so they don’t take over the bed.
When to worry
- If plants stop flowering and only make runners, they may be overcrowded or underfed—thin them and add compost or balanced fertilizer.
- If runners or leaves look spotted, brown, or wilted, check for pests or fungal disease before propagating those babies.
Otherwise, runners are normal—just choose whether you want more berries or more plants, and treat them accordingly.
Answered by the GrowPls assistant. Every plant and room is different; if things don't improve, a clear close-up photo of the affected part is the fastest way to a better answer.
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