strawberry runners

[poohpouri]

Hi what do i do with strawberry runners? do i leave them on main plants how do i keep them to have plants for next year? thanks

[tweety]

Hi,

I think I was told to remove them as the plant puts more energy in the runner than in growing fruits...
last year I cut some and kept some for increasing my plant number. I "pegged" the runner into a small pot of moist compost and waited until there was some growth, then I cut the runner from the mother plant.

but as I am still new to this, maybe someone with more experience can confirm or tell us what to do ;-)

[Capsid]

I'd remove them if this is the first year, but keep them if they are in their second or third years. Strawberries need replacing after about 4 years so the runners will provide you with the new plants.

[rustylady]

First year cut them off to give your plants to establish well. After that let runners form and root themselves, but limit the number of runners per plant to one or two, and the plantlets that form on each runner to one or two or your strawberry bed will become a tangled mess. You can let the plantlets root themselves into the soil, or sink a small (3 and a half pot into the soil for them to root into. When they have rooted and growing well sever the runner each side of the new plant. You can then transplant them to wherever you want them.

[Nykied]

Hiw can you tell if it's a runner or a new stalk with a leaf on growing out of your plant? I've cut some off but now I'm not sure if they were runners or not /

[poohpouri]

Thanks everyone

[Shadylane]

Hiw can you tell if it's a runner or a new stalk with a leaf on growing out of your plant? I've cut some off but now I'm not sure if they were runners or not /

They do stand out, almost so much that you'd know if you saw one. The stem is usually longer than normal as it has to find bare ground to root. The leaf is usually folded up for a bit too. Under the leaf there will be a node where the roots form. Roots will start to form even if it doesn't touch the soil and you'll be able to see it then.

[Nykied]

They do stand out, almost so much that you'd know if you saw one. The stem is usually longer than normal as it has to find bare ground to root. The leaf is usually folded up for a bit too. Under the leaf there will be a node where the roots form. Roots will start to form even if it doesn't touch the soil and you'll be able to see it then.

Thanks, I'll have a look for those tonight then )

[Nicos]

This one's got loads of runners!!!