Strawberry Runner Mara des Bois

Mastering Strawberry Propagation: A Professional Guide to Strawberry Runners (Stolons)

For the Strawberry Grower, Market Gardener, and Professional Strawberry Producer, mastering vegetative propagation through runners (stolons) is a cornerstone of sustainable and cost-effective cultivation. While purchasing certified plants like Strawberry Frigo Plants or Trays Strawberry Plants offers precision and sanitary guarantees, understanding the technical itinerary for runner production is essential for autonomy, variety selection, and optimizing operational costs. This guide, tailored for the Strawberry Farm Head of Cultivation and Production Manager, provides a detailed technical pathway for producing high-quality strawberry plants from runners.

What is a Strawberry Runner? A Technical Definition

The strawberry runner, or stolon, is a fundamental organ for the vegetative multiplication of the strawberry plant. It is an aerial, creeping stem that grows horizontally from the mother plant. At regular intervals, the stolon develops nodes where small plantlets, or rosettes, form. When these plantlets make contact with the soil and have developed about four leaves, they grow their own root system, becoming genetically identical clones of the mother plant.

This natural propagation mechanism is physiologically favored by long days and warm temperatures (above 23°C), typically occurring after the main fruiting period in summer. For professional growers, managing stolon production allows for the renewal of plantings at a significantly lower cost compared to purchasing new plants for every cycle.

Advantages of On-Farm Runner Production:

• Cost Reduction: Significantly lowers the initial investment for planting a new field, as the cost of plants can represent a major part of the establishment budget. The price of commercial plants can range from approximately €0.15 to €0.70 per unit, which translates to a substantial expense for densities of 35,000 to 55,000 plants per hectare.
• Autonomy: Gives the grower full control over the production schedule and plant availability.
• Variety Preservation: Allows for the maintenance and multiplication of specific, well-adapted varieties on the farm.

Disadvantages and Technical Constraints:

• Sanitary Risk: The primary drawback is the transmission of diseases (viruses, fungi) from the mother plant to the runners. This can lead to a gradual degeneration of the plant stock if not managed with extreme rigor.
• Labor Intensive: This method requires significant time and labor for nursery management, including weeding, runner selection, and harvesting.
• Lack of Uniformity: Plants produced on-farm may lack the precise calibration and uniformity offered by professional nurseries that grade runners by crown diameter.

Detailed Cultivation Guide for Runner Production

This technical itinerary outlines the best practices for establishing a dedicated nursery plot to produce healthy and vigorous strawberry runners.

1. Selection and Preparation of Mother Plants

The quality of your future plants depends entirely on the health of the mother plants. It is strongly recommended to start your nursery with certified, virus-free plants from a specialized supplier.

• Source of Mother Plants: Purchase certified pre-base or elite plants to ensure a clean start, free from latent viruses and fungal diseases.
• Renewal Cycle: Mother plants should be replaced regularly to prevent sanitary decline. A common professional practice is to renew the mother stock every 2 to 3 years to introduce fresh, healthy genetic material.
• On-Farm Selection: If selecting from your own production fields, choose only the most vigorous, productive, and disease-free plants. This method carries a higher sanitary risk but can be viable for short-term multiplication.

2. Stimulating and Managing Stolon Production

To maximize the production of high-quality runners, all of the mother plant's energy must be directed towards vegetative growth, not fruit production.

• De-blossoming (Flower Removal): Systematically remove all flower trusses from the mother plants as they appear. This practice, known as "effleurer," prevents fruiting and diverts the plant's resources towards producing strong runners.
• Runner Selection: A mother plant can produce many runners, but quality is more important than quantity. Studies have shown that primary runners (the first ones produced) yield plants that can be up to 14 times more productive than those from later, tertiary runners. It is recommended to limit the number of runners per mother plant to between 3 and 5 of the strongest primary runners, removing any subsequent weaker ones. Also, it is advised to keep only the first or second plantlet on a single stolon and pinch off the end to concentrate the plant's energy.

3. Rooting the Plantlets

For a plantlet to become a viable plant, its new roots must establish firm contact with a suitable substrate.

• Soil Contact: Ensure the base of each selected plantlet is in direct contact with moist soil. You can secure them using a U-shaped wire peg (cavalier).
• Potting Technique: For superior results and easier transplanting, place a small pot or a cell tray filled with a light potting mix (terreau) directly under the plantlet. The runner will root into the pot, creating a well-established root ball that minimizes transplant shock. This technique is highly recommended for professional operations.

4. Harvesting and Separating the Runners

The timing of separation (sevrage) from the mother plant is critical.

• Optimal Stage: Separate the plantlet when it has developed a robust root system and a healthy rosette of several leaves, typically after 6 to 8 weeks of rooting. The plant must be autonomous enough to survive on its own.
• Harvesting Technique: Use a clean, disinfected knife or pruning shears to cut the stolon about 1-2 cm from the plantlet on both sides (mother plant and any further growth).
• Timing: Perform this operation during cool, overcast weather or in the late afternoon to reduce dehydration risk.

5. Post-Harvest Management: From Fresh Plant to Frigo Plant

Once harvested, the new plants can be used immediately or stored for future planting.

• Immediate Transplanting (Fresh Plants - Plants Frais): This is the simplest option. The freshly harvested and rooted runners are planted directly into the production field, typically between August and October for June-bearing varieties. Water generously and frequently after planting to ensure successful establishment, as the new roots are delicate.
• Cold Storage (Frigo Plants - Plants Frigo): To create frigo plants for scheduled spring or summer planting, runners must be harvested during their dormancy period in late autumn (typically November). After harvesting, the leaves are removed, roots are lightly trimmed, and the plants are bundled and stored in a cold chamber at a precise temperature of -1.5°C to -2°C in complete darkness. This process keeps the plants dormant for up to 8-9 months, allowing for flexible and programmed planting schedules the following year.

By implementing this rigorous technical itinerary, Strawberry Production Managers can successfully produce their own high-quality strawberry runners, ensuring greater operational autonomy and significant cost savings.

In summary: Our Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria)

As a wholesale supplier specialist in Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria), Strawberryverse provides professional growers with premium planting material that supports reliable, high-yield production. Whether you are multiplying your own stock from runners or planting a new field, the quality of your initial plants is critical. Our Plants of Strawberry (Fragaria) are produced under strict phytosanitary conditions to ensure strong root development and uniformity. The technical itinerary covered in this article gives growers the knowledge to produce their own plants while maintaining professional standards. However, when sanitary guarantees and varietal uniformity are essential, relying on certified material from a wholesale supplier specialist in Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria) like Strawberryverse is the preferred solution.

Buy your Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria) from Strawberryverse to benefit from nursery-grade selection and robust logistics. We supply large volumes across Europe with short lead times and full traceability. With personalized advice and dedicated support for your farm’s specific needs, you gain peace of mind and optimize your productivity. Buy your Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria) at producer prices and scale your operations with confidence. Our expert team is here to help you match the right variety and plant type to your agro-climatic conditions and marketing calendar.

At every stage, Strawberryverse positions itself as your long-term partner and wholesale supplier specialist in Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria). Whether you are diversifying, expanding, or upgrading your production system, buy your Plant of Strawberry (Fragaria) from a trusted partner that combines commercial flexibility with agronomic expertise. Reserve your stock now or contact our team for a tailored quote.