Regarding potting on strawberry runners

[21again]

I see that people normally peg down the runners so that they take root, then snip off once rooted.

If you have runners with quite big roots is it ok to cut them off and plant the bit with roots into a pot?

I say this because I have my strawbs in pots which are stacked on one of those self assembly staging posts outside.

I have nowhere to put pots for them to be pegged into and I have let them trail for so long, that they have about 1cm roots coming out of most of the joints of the runner where the leaves have grown.

[Shadylane]

I reckon they'd be fine, just keep em in the shade until they've got a bit more root growth.

[Bigmallly]

I think I read somewhere that you can tie small bags of compost around the runners roots until they develop a bit more then cut from the parent when more established.

[FionaH]

I was given a bunch of runners like that and just potted them up. They were fine

[FB.]

Strawberry runners are like weeds. I don't give them any fancy treatment. I've often planted runners that consisted of one leaf, and that had a small knobbly base that didn't have any proper roots - yet they still usually establish quickly and easily.

[redlandrover90]

Afternoon all,

I know this has probably been answered plenty of times but here goes!

My strawberry plants, all three of them (1st year) have stopped fruiting (if you can call 6 fruits 'fruiting') and are now just foliage. I have taken a runner off each plant and they are now potted up in 3 inch pots independent of the original plants.
- Do I now need to cut the foliage back on the original 1st year plants to encourage more fruiting next year? Can I do this now or is too early?
- Can I leave my runners in the 3 inch pots overwinter as they are or should I put them into their new place now?
- Should I leave the foliage on the runners overwinter or cut that back?
- Do I need to protect the plants from frost or are they hardy enough to be just left out?

All my growing is done in containers as we're short on space and I'm a beginner to this so any help will be gratefully received!

Thanks

[FB.]

I would have thought that cutting back foliage at this time of year would knock the stuffing out of the plants and seriously impair their vigour for next year. The second part of the growing season (Aug-Oct) is where most plants channel energy into strong roots for the next season.

I suggest just leaving them alone to get on with doing what they do - strawberries love to fruit heavily, but their first year is spent building strength for their peak cropping in years 2-4.

Strawberries will tolerate extreme frosts without a problem.

[redlandrover90]

Thanks for the speedy response FB. So would you recommend cutting back foliage at all or just leave the plants to get on with it through the winter? What do you recommend for the runners which are now in pots?

[BeatTheSeasons]

My strawberry plants, all three of them (1st year) have stopped fruiting (if you can call 6 fruits 'fruiting')

Most strawberries seem to do most of their fruiting in June, so it is no surprise that they have stopped fruiting now, if that's what you mean.

I want to extend my strawberry season next year and plan to buy a few 'everbearers' - not tried them before but apparently you get a smaller crop but more spread out over the whole summer.

[Jax]

redlandrover, I wouldnt personally cut any foliage. the only thing I do is remove any brown/dead leaves.

[FB.]

Thanks for the speedy response FB. So would you recommend cutting back foliage at all or just leave the plants to get on with it through the winter? What do you recommend for the runners which are now in pots?

A Jax said; only remove dead leaves.

As for the runners, I would plant them in their final place as soon as possible. Plants seem to establish best when planted at the start of autumn - September - because the soil is warm and moist (due to the retained heat of the summer and from the autumn rains); warm and moist really helps root growth.

[21again]

Thanks for the advice folks, I have left a few on there and cut some off and potted to see how they go.

[redlandrover90]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll get them put out into their final positions in a week or two and we'll see how we get on next year. Fingers crossed!