"shazzbat" wrote in
:

Hi folks.

Yes I know there's another thread about these going on below, but it's
descending into chaos, and I was wondering wether to remove the
runners from the plants which are becoming a tangled mess. I have
pegged down several to increase the stock, but what I want to know is
will removing the surplus runners prolong/increase the fruiting?

My Ken Muir 'grow your own fruit' book says you can chop 'em off to get
bigger better single plants, or you can let 6-9 runners per plant root to
form 'matted rows'.

From single plants

"a higher proportion of large sized fruit may be expected than from matted
rows which though more difficult to keep free from weeds, bear a heavier
crop of fruit".

It doesn't say that letting runners develop will affect this year's crop,
but it doesn't say it won't either.

Anyone want to swap a few strawberry runners? I have Gariguette and alpine
strawberries.

Gariguette has a very good flavour, and is an early variety: I would like
some later-cropping or perpetual ones.

Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--