Can You Transplant Strawberries?

Vegetative Propagation

• Plants can be propagated using many different methods, depending on the particular growing habits of the plant. This type of reproduction is advantageous to gardeners because it creates a clone of the mother plant. Much is known about the new plant long before it matures. Strawberries readily reproduce using runners, which are small plants that grow from shoots sent out from the mother plants.

Transplants from Runners

• It is simple to produce a new plant from a runner. If you wait until the new plant has established some roots, simply sever the attached stem and dig carefully around the new plant. You can also simply pluck the young plant from the stem and start it in a rooting mix. Depending on the material in your strawberry bed, this may be the easiest way to propagate new transplants.

Handling Transplants

• In many areas, strawberries can be transplanted from spring through fall. Prepare rooted transplants for their permanent location by removing all but the two or three best leaves. Space them 18 to 30 inches apart to allow room for new runners. When setting the strawberry plant, the placement of the crown is critical. Plants set too deeply will rot, and those too high will dry out. The crown should be level with the soil after it has been planted and back-filled with soil.

After Transplantation Care

• New transplants require extra care. Strawberries have shallow roots and must be kept moist after transplantation. Water your new strawberry plants to a depth of about 12 inches at least once every two weeks. Weed between the strawberry plants to eliminate competition for water and nutrients. Remove all flowers, during the first season, to encourage plant development.