Victoria Clare wrote in
.209:

I have a theory that strawberries can tell if you want them to runner,
and deliberately don't. Try walking round making loud comments about
how good it is that you've found plants that want to concentrate on
fruit. ;-)

Ah....Good old reverse psycology(sp?)....

But I have been swearing at so many opf my plants that if they don't buck
up they will be in the bin.....

I don't want to confuse the poor things!