Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) are simple to grow in a sunny area of your garden, even if you’re new to fruit cultivation. They can thrive in various types of gardens, from hanging baskets to planter boxes to in-ground plots. You can propagate new strawberry plants by using runners that extend from mature plants. These runners produce plants that are identical to the original. By using cardboard toilet paper tubes, you can encourage the runners to develop into new plants. The tubes act as biodegradable pots that can be easily moved without disturbing the plants’ roots.
Without the tubes, young strawberry plants may face shock when transplanted due to their delicate roots. The tubes also keep the runners in contact with the soil, which is essential for root formation. To aid in this process, a plastic bottle cap and a rust-resistant nail can be used. The cap and nail serve as anchors to keep the runner in contact with the soil inside the tube. To prepare the strawberry tubes, cut a bottle cap in half and make flaps by slicing ½-inch slits in the lower part of the tube. Fold the flaps up to seal the tube’s bottom. Make notches in the top edge of the tube and the rounded edge of the cap to help secure the runner in place. Push the nail through the cap and select a healthy runner with a node where roots and leaves will develop.
Filling and planting your strawberry runner tubes
Your next step involves filling each tube with soil and a strawberry runner. You can mix composted coffee grounds into the soil to provide nutrients, or standard garden soil will suffice. Soak the bottom of each soil-filled tube in water briefly and place it in a hole near the parent plant, keeping the runner attached. Position the runner on top, guiding it into the notches and securing the node to the soil with the cap-and-nail assembly. If you don’t have a cap or nail, a staple or hairpin can also be used.
