pollinating strawberry plants help plz

[robert0881]

I have about a dozen strawberry plants thatt are starting to flower. i have them inside my polytunnel. We havnt had the weather here to really get any bees or fly life going this spring. im about 1000ft above see level so colder than normal.
Im guessing that i will have to pollinate by hand but have no idea how to do this. i was told to get a small paint brush and tickle the insides of the flowers. Do i have to take pollen from one flower to another? or do i just rub around each flower? Also how soon and whats the signs if it has been a success. thanks for your help.

[blito]

I tickled the flowers with a paintbrush moving methodically one to the next, moving round the whole lot twice.
Once the petals start to drop the flower centre should start to swell and develop into the fruit.
Hope it goes well

[bramble]

You can also use a feather. Just rub the middle of the flower from one plant to the other and they should be fine.

[RedThorn]

An artist's paintbrush as mentioned above .... goodluck