Obtaining Strawberry Plants

There are many ways that strawberry plants can be obtained. It depends on gardener skills, free time, the desired number of plants, etc.

In many cases, the simplest solution is to go to the nearest garden center and buy potted strawberry plants or to order them from online shops. But why keep it simple ...?

Published: October 19, 2020.

Strawberry plants can be obtained:

- As one-year-old grown plants in containers from garden centers,

- As plants grown from the seeds at home,

- As plants grown from the runners at home,

- Some varieties also can be grown by dividing the central stem, usually in the late vegetation period.

One-year-old grown plants in containers from garden markets are probably the best solution because one gets plants that can bear fruits the same year, plants should be certified (type, virus-free, etc), and are easily potted in larger containers. When starting strawberry planting for the first time or just wanting to test some new variety, it is the best and easiest solution to buy one-year-old plants in containers. This is also the most expensive solution per grown plant – which is not so important for a small number of plants.

Plants grown from the seeds require more time and much more work. Plants usually bear fruits next year, and if they do bear fruits in the first year, fruits are usually small and of low quality. A plant that bears fruits in the first year don't bear fruits very well next year.

There are some varieties of day-neutral and ever-bearing strawberries that can bear fruits in the same year, but a much better harvest can be expected next year, especially if first-year flowers are cut off before strawberry fruits start to grow. This is the cheapest way for a larger number of plants, but some disappointments are possible – especially if one uses non-certified seeds.

Plants grown from the runners require less work when compared with growing strawberries from the seeds. Also, ever-bearing and day-neutral strawberries grown from runners can give some harvest same year, although they require god soil, sunny position, and plenty of moisture – be careful, strawberries don't like to have their roots submerged in water – proper drainage is very important. June-bearing strawberries grown from runners will give normal harvest next year, so be patient. When growing strawberries from runners, always use runners from the best plants.

Plants grown from divided central stem are similar to plants grown from runners. Some varieties of ever-bearing and day-neutral strawberries are mostly grown this way. Again, use only the best plants and discard others.

To keep your strawberry plants strong, use only certified plants in the pots and seeds. Even then some disappointment cannot be avoided, but the first harvest will make you forget all downfalls.