Dividing strawberry crowns is an effective propagation method that allows gardeners to rejuvenate their strawberry patches and increase their yield without purchasing new plants. While strawberries can be propagated through runners or seeds, crown division provides a reliable way to multiply your existing healthy plants and maintain the exact genetic traits you’ve come to enjoy.
With proper technique and timing, dividing strawberry crowns can give your garden a fresh start and extend the productive life of your strawberry patch. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about successfully dividing strawberry crowns for robust new plants.
Understanding Strawberry Crowns
The crown of a strawberry plant is the short, thick stem that grows at soil level, serving as the central growing point for the entire plant. It’s the section where leaves emerge from the top and roots grow from the bottom. As strawberry plants mature, many varieties naturally develop multiple crowns clustering together at the base, particularly if you’ve been diligently removing runners.
These multiple crowns can be carefully separated to create new, independent plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant. This propagation method is especially valuable for gardeners who have found a particularly flavorful or productive variety they wish to preserve exactly.
When to Divide Strawberry Crowns
Timing is crucial when dividing strawberry crowns. The optimal time for division is early spring, just as new growth begins to emerge but before flowering starts. During this period:
- Plants are emerging from dormancy and beginning active growth
- The soil has warmed enough to support new root development
- Plants have energy reserves to recover from the division process
- Cool, moist spring conditions reduce transplant shock
- New plants have the entire growing season to establish before winter
In most growing zones, this window typically falls between late March and early April, though exact timing will vary depending on your local climate. Avoid dividing crowns during the heat of summer or after the plants have begun flowering, as this puts unnecessary stress on both the parent plant and divisions.
Tools and Materials Needed
Before beginning the crown division process, gather these essential supplies:
- Clean, sharp garden trowel or spade
- Pruning shears or sharp scissors (disinfected with alcohol)
- Garden gloves
- String or plant ties
- Watering can or hose with gentle spray attachment
- Organic compost or well-rotted manure
- Mulch material (straw is ideal for strawberries)
- New pots or prepared garden bed for transplanting
- Marking tags (optional, for labeling varieties)
Having these materials ready before you begin will help ensure a smooth and efficient division process, minimizing the time your plants spend out of the soil.
Step-by-Step Guide to Dividing Strawberry Crowns
1. Prepare the Plants
Thoroughly water your strawberry plants the evening before dividing them. This hydrates the plant and softens the soil, making the removal process less stressful for the plant’s root system. The soil should be moist to a depth of approximately six inches (15 cm).
2. Select Healthy Plants
Choose mature, healthy plants with multiple crowns for division. The best candidates are plants that are at least two years old and show signs of multiple growing points at the base. Avoid plants with signs of disease, discoloration, or pest damage.
3. Clear and Mark the Area
Gently clear away mulch or debris from around the plant base so you can clearly see the crown structure. Tie the stems together with string to keep them out of your way and protect them during the digging process. Then, use your finger or a small tool to scratch a circle in the soil about 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) away from the plant’s base, creating a guide for your digging.
4. Extract the Plant
Using your garden trowel, dig down to approximately six inches (15 cm) depth around the circumference of your marked circle. Work the blade underneath the root ball, being careful not to slice through too many roots. Gently pry upward, loosening the plant from all sides before lifting the entire plant out of the ground. Fill in the hole left behind in your strawberry bed.
5. Clean the Root Ball
Untie the strawberry stems and gently brush or shake off excess soil from the root system. This will allow you to see the structure of the crowns and roots more clearly. You may rinse the roots gently if needed, but try to keep the crown itself relatively dry to prevent rot issues.
6. Identify Division Points
Carefully examine the crown structure. A mature strawberry plant often develops multiple crowns clustered together, each with its own set of leaves emerging from the top. These natural divisions are where you’ll separate the plant.
7. Divide the Crowns
Using your clean, sharp pruning shears or knife, cut vertically down through the center of the root ball, creating two sections of approximately equal size. Each section should have its own crown portion and a fair share of the roots. For plants with multiple crowns, you can further divide each half into smaller plants, ensuring that each division has:
- A crown section at least half an inch (just over 1 cm) in diameter
- 6-12 healthy, intact roots
- Some leaf growth or leaf buds
Avoid dividing smaller crowns, as they may not have sufficient energy reserves to survive the transplanting process.
8. Trim if Necessary
If the roots are extremely long or damaged, you may trim them back slightly to encourage new growth. Similarly, you can remove any old, yellowing, or damaged leaves while keeping the healthy center leaves intact.
9. Transplant Immediately
Prepare holes in your new growing location that are slightly deeper than the root ball of each division. Position the crown so it sits just at or slightly below soil level (about one-quarter to one-half inch below the surface). The crown should be partially covered with soil while leaving the emerging leaves and stems exposed above ground.
Spread the roots outward and downward in the planting hole rather than bunching them together. Backfill with soil, gently firming it around the roots while being careful not to compact it too much.
10. Water and Mulch
Water the newly transplanted divisions thoroughly but gently, ensuring the soil settles around the roots without exposing the crown. Apply a 2-inch (5 cm) layer of organic mulch around each plant, keeping it slightly away from the crown itself to prevent rot. Straw is the traditional and ideal mulch for strawberry plants.
Care After Division
The first few weeks after division are critical for establishment. Follow these care guidelines to ensure your divided crowns thrive:
- Water consistently to keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy
- Provide dappled shade during the first week if weather is hot or sunny
- Remove any flower buds that appear during the first 4-6 weeks to direct energy to root and leaf development
- Apply a diluted organic liquid fertilizer 2-3 weeks after transplanting
- Monitor for signs of stress and adjust care accordingly
Your newly divided strawberry plants should show signs of new growth within 2-4 weeks. By the following year, they should be fully established and ready for fruiting.
Common Problems When Dividing Strawberry Crowns
Even with careful technique, you may encounter these common issues:
- Wilting after transplanting: Often temporary as plants adjust; maintain consistent moisture and provide light shade if needed
- Failure to establish: May indicate crown damage during division or improper planting depth
- Yellowing leaves: Could signal overwatering, poor drainage, or transplant shock
- Minimal growth: Plants may need more time to establish or could benefit from light fertilization
- Rot issues: Usually caused by planting crowns too deeply or mulching too close to the crown
With proper care and patience, most divided strawberry plants will overcome these initial challenges and develop into productive plants.
Benefits of Dividing Strawberry Crowns
While dividing strawberry crowns requires more effort than propagating by runners, this method offers several distinct advantages:
- Rejuvenates aging strawberry patches
- Maintains the exact genetic traits of parent plants
- Creates more compact plants that often produce larger berries
- Helps manage plant spacing in established beds
- Provides an opportunity to inspect and discard diseased plants
- Can increase overall yield by giving each crown adequate space and resources
For gardeners looking to maintain a specific variety or revitalize an existing strawberry patch, crown division is often the preferred propagation method.
Final Thoughts
Dividing strawberry crowns is a rewarding way to multiply your strawberry plants while maintaining the exact characteristics you’ve come to love in your existing varieties. With proper timing, technique, and aftercare, this propagation method can help you create a robust, productive strawberry patch that will provide delicious harvests for years to come.
Remember that strawberry plants are generally most productive in their second and third years, so implementing a regular division schedule can help maintain optimal production in your garden. By dividing and replanting a portion of your strawberry bed each spring, you can ensure a continuous cycle of vigorous, productive plants.
Whether you’re expanding your strawberry patch, rejuvenating aging plants, or sharing your favorite varieties with fellow gardeners, mastering the art of crown division is a valuable skill that will serve you well in your gardening journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should strawberry crowns be divided?
Strawberry plants typically benefit from division every 3-4 years, as this is when they begin to lose vigor and productivity. However, division can be performed whenever a healthy plant has developed multiple crowns, generally after at least two years of growth.
2. Can I divide strawberry crowns in the fall?
While early spring is optimal, fall division can be successful in milder climates where plants have at least 4-6 weeks to establish before hard freezes occur. In colder regions, fall-divided plants should be heavily mulched for winter protection or kept in a protected area like a cold frame.
3. How many new plants can I get from dividing one strawberry plant?
This depends entirely on the size and health of the parent plant. Most mature strawberry plants with multiple crowns can be divided into 2-4 new plants. Exceptionally large, vigorous plants might yield more divisions, while smaller plants might only be suitable for halving.
4. Should I remove the flowers from newly divided strawberry plants?
Yes, it’s advisable to remove flower buds from newly divided plants for at least 4-6 weeks after transplanting. This allows the plant to direct energy toward establishing roots and foliage rather than producing fruit, resulting in stronger plants and better harvests in the long run.
5. What are the signs that a strawberry plant needs to be divided?
Signs include:
- Decreased fruit production
- Smaller berries
- Crowded growth at the center of the plant
- Multiple visible crowns clustered together
- Plants rising above soil level on a “mound”
- Plants that are 3+ years old
6. Can I divide strawberry plants growing in containers?
Yes, container-grown strawberries can be divided using the same techniques. Simply remove the entire plant from the container, divide the crowns, and replant in fresh potting mix. Container plants may need division more frequently due to space constraints.
7. Why did my divided strawberry plants die?
Common causes of failure include:
- Dividing during hot weather or flowering
- Cutting through crowns instead of between them
- Insufficient roots on divisions
- Planting crowns too deeply or too shallowly
- Inadequate watering after transplanting
- Dividing diseased or pest-infested plants
8. Do all strawberry varieties respond well to crown division?
Most June-bearing and everbearing varieties divide successfully. Alpine and wild strawberries typically have single crowns and are better propagated by seed or runners. Check the specific characteristics of your variety before dividing.
9. Can I store divided strawberry crowns before replanting?
While immediate replanting is best, divided crowns can be temporarily stored for 1-2 days if kept cool and moist. Wrap the roots in damp paper towels, place in a plastic bag left slightly open, and store in a cool, dark location until planting is possible.
10. How deep should I plant divided strawberry crowns?
Plant divided crowns so that the crown itself sits just at or slightly below soil level (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch or 0.6-1.3 cm deep). The crown should be partially covered while leaving emerging leaves exposed. Planting too deeply can cause crown rot, while planting too shallowly may cause the crown to dry out.