How to Prune Strawberry Plants

Sweet and juicy strawberries are one the simplest and fastest fruits to grow. They do not require rigorous maintenance to bud into succulent, edible fruits. Strawberry plants also do not require heavy pruning, but the light pruning needed is just as important as in any other edible plant.

It is important to prune strawberry plants, as it helps to stimulate strong growth, maintain the size and shape of the plant, and overall quality of your fruit. Strawberry plants put out runners that take a grip once in contact with the soil. You would want to leave your runners to grow if you want a strawberry patch. However, the new plants suck energy from the adult bush, leaving you with smaller or less desirable fruits.

To maintain a well-pruned, neat, and easily harvested strawberry patch, you should follow these pruning techniques.

How to Grow and Prune Strawberry Plants

1. Start Prunning in the First Year

Pruning should start early so that the plants can have quality growth. Pinch off the blossoms/flowers that form on the strawberry plant in the first year. Doing this will ensure that energy is stored for the plant to produce fruit for the next season. Also, remove weeds that may choke the strawberry seedlings before they are firmly rooted.

2. Trim Runners

Runners are shoots and trails sent out from each mother plant. These runners grow to be overbearing as they drain essential nutrients that should go to the main plant. For the strawberry plant to produce fruit (maximize production), you need to trim the runners.

Leave the first set of runners to grow until the space between the main rows is 12 inches wide. Remove all runners, leaving out 6 secondary runners from the first runner growth. Trace this by locating the main stem where the runners branch off, then pull it off carefully.

This is important so you don't lose control of the strawberry patch and to prevent the quality of the fruit from declining.

3. Root the Secondary Runners

Use runners to plant new plants. Realign the secondary runners from the first growth so that they are 10 inches apart. Tertiary (third set) runners soon start to grow. Press the stems and leaves of the secondary runners ½inch into the soil, securing them with bent twigs. This will serve as roots for the tertiary tubers, which will give off strawberries.

4. Pull of New Runners

New runners will soon begin to grow from the tertiary runners. Pull of these new runners that may form around the strawberries. This will help to maximize fruit production.

5. Old Growth Should Be Replaced With New Runners

You should dig up old/fading vines every 2 to 3 years and replace them with secondary or tertiary runners. This will help maintain and keep your strawberry patch productive.

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Photo by Artur Rutkowski on Unsplash