Strawberry plants can grow and produce fresh berries year-round in an indoor hydroponics system. There may be some limitations with the initial planting due to the availability of the strawberry runners. Re-planting or propagating new strawberry plants occurs at various times throughout the year once the hydroponics system is actively growing and producing berries and plant runners.
Starting new strawberry plants in a hydroponics system can occur whenever the starter runners are available for purchase at garden supply stores. While this is often at any time of the year, in some areas these seedling plants may only be available in late winter to early spring. Runners propagated from plants growing in a hydroponics system can be removed from the plants and replanted in a new hydroponics growing pot at any time of the year.
Strawberries prefer cold stimulation before planting. Placing the starter runners in a refrigerator for six to 12 weeks helps jump-start them into growing and producing flowers right after planting in the hydroponics system. Plant the runners in a netted hydroponic pot filled with a soil-less medium so the strawberry plant root and bottom stem is covered to a depth of at least 2 inches.
Strawberry plants produce runners, which are long stems with leaves. These stems are offshoot plants that you can clip off and replant to create another strawberry plant. Remove the runners and a portion of the root system once the runners reach a length of at least 12 inches. Hydroponic systems can produce strawberries year-round, so remove runners at any time of the year and replant them into a new pot in the system.
Purchase strawberry plant runners from a garden supply store instead of removing them from an outdoor garden. This will reduce the risk of introducing pathogens or soil-borne diseases into your hydroponic garden. Runners dug from a soil-growing plant should be rinsed in clean water. You can also soak the root system in a root-fungicide solution, available at plant supply stores, for about 20 minutes. Avoid planting runners that appear unhealthy or damaged.
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