strawberry runners

[Turf cutter man]

I Planted some strawberries last autumn. Some outside some in the ploytunnel. They are both doing well however the ones outside have runners all over the place and the ones in the tunnel don't.

The ones in the tunnel have been fruiting for a while. The ones outside are just starting.

Any ideas why the ones in the tunnel have no runners?

Thanks

[MKG]

I was waiting for an expert to reply. However, here's my six penn'orth ...

Runners are the plants' alternative method of reproduction. I have this bee in my bonnet about plants not doing too much about their situation unless they have to, so the more comfortable the position they find themselves in, the less work they do. The ones in your tunnel are probably in strawberry heaven, so they don't have to reproduce in any other way but by producing fruit. The ones outside are in a more stressed situation - hence the runners to guarantee survival of the plants.

This is merely a theory - but it's surprising how many things crop up which tend to confirm it.

[Lady Willow]

Can we use strawberry runners to root up and make new plants? Or will this stress them and reduce harvest, since they're "feeling the need" to put out the runners in the first place? (the ones in the polytunnel have just started to put out runners.

If I can use them, when's the best time to take them, and any tips on rooting them?

Thanks folks ... hope you're all enjoying the same glorious sunshine we are


Aradia
(Turf Cutter Man's reason for living, I mean, wife)

[JR]

You can place compost filled pots under the leafy bits of the runners and they will root. Once rooted cut of the runner and you have a new self sufficient plant.

[MKG]

JR's absolutely right. The only thing I'd add is to peg the runners down onto the compost. And no, it won't reduce the harvest - the plants have already produced the runners, so allowing them to root will actually reduce the energy overhead on the parent plant.

EDIT: Sorry, Aradia, missed that. Peg them down as soon as you can (they'll begin to root almost immediately). The runners actually WANT to root, so give 'em every chance.

[Turf cutter man]

Thanks for your advice we will try rooting some runners this week. You can't have too many strawberries can you...If you have the room and we do.

thanks again

[Millymollymandy]

Normally I just let the strawbs get on with it, their runners start rooting as soon as they touch the soil and later on I clean up the whole bed taking what new plants I want and planting elsewhere and chucking the rest.

This year I don't want any more strawbs so I'm just picking the runners off as I pick the strawbs. They do tend to take over if you leave them!