Select and mark candidates
Strawberry bushes of the same variety have the same genetic makeup, but differ in their earning power. The offshoots of a rich mother plant thus have a more efficient growth force than the tendrils of weak strawberry plants. So keep an eye on your favorites throughout the harvest season and mark them with a clearly visible wooden stick.
also read
- How to grow green lilies from cuttings - the best tips
- Moving young strawberry plants correctly
- Baobab tree pulling with offshoots: clearly explained
From cuttings to plants - this is how it works step by step
July is the best time to start propagation by cuttings. The harvest is either in full swing or has already ended. This year's harvest winners have emerged and were marked with a clear conscience. How to proceed:
- the ideal offshoot is as close as possible to the mother plant, has healthy leaves and is not firmly rooted
- Lift out of the earth with a small shovel and set aside
- dig a 10 cm unglazed clay pot there
- Fill with humus, loose substrate up to 2 cm below the edge of the pot
- place the offshoot in the pot and press it down in the middle
Knowledgeable hobby gardeners slightly scratch the offshoot with a razor blade where it comes into the ground. The clay pot is now completely buried so that the pot wall has continuous contact with the ground. If there is a shoot behind the offshoot, it is cut off. In the last step, water everything well and keep the area constantly moist for the following weeks.
Transplant in late summer
While the offshoot is still being supplied by its mother plants, an independent root system develops in the clay pot. If you feel a firm resistance by gently pulling on the drive, the development is sufficiently advanced for the next step.
- Cut the offshoots from the mother plant with a sharp knife
- loosen the soil at the new location and enrich it with compost
- dig a planting hole with twice the volume of the root ball
- Repot and plant the young plant pulled from the offshoot
- Press down the soil, water it and mulch it with compost, bark mulch or straw
If you have chosen several cuttings for propagation, consider a plant spacing of 25-30 centimeters and a row spacing of 60 centimeters. The young strawberry plants will be able to establish themselves well in the warm soil by winter so that they can thrive splendidly next year. During this time, pay particular attention to an adequate water supply.
Tips & Tricks
When assessing the earning power of a mother plant, experienced hobby gardeners cannot be fooled by the growth speed of the tendrils. The more productive a strawberry plant, the later its offshoots develop.
