Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Miscellany => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: CAMRAMan on 24 June, 2010, 02:11:43 pm

Title: Strawberries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 June, 2010, 02:11:43 pm

So, I have some healthy strawberry plants that are sending out loads of runners, but not flowering after a promising start.

What to do? Should I just trim off the runners? Can it be as simple as that. I did try it on a couple, but the palnt just sent out more.

Title: Re: Strawbeeries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: Oaky on 24 June, 2010, 02:25:22 pm

Quote from: A Warwickshire Lad on 24 June, 2010, 02:11:43 pm

So, I have some healthy strawberry plants that are sending out loads of runners, but not flowering after a promising start.

What to do? Should I just trim off the runners? Can it be as simple as that. I did try it on a couple, but the palnt just sent out more.

I read somewhere that strawberry plants have a 3 year cycle with the 1st year being only lightly fruiting.

Certainly ours (in their second year now) are producing more fruit than the previous year.

EDIT: This wasn't the place I read it, but it also refers to the three year cycle (http://www.doctorgreenfingers.co.uk/Growing_Vegetables_help_advice/Growing-strawberries.html)

Title: Re: Strawbeeries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: Hello, I am Bruce on 24 June, 2010, 02:30:07 pm

I've got a similar thing going on.

We found some strawberry plants in the front garden that had spread from runners.  I guess they were all a year or two old (some very small, with dead runners still attaching them in a network).  We transplanted the plants to a new bed but although they have grown big and produced lots of runners, there have been no flowers.

Title: Re: Strawbeeries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 June, 2010, 05:13:44 pm

Mine are new this year (from Homebase, albeit) and were flowering nicely and fruiting quite well a month or so after transplanting.

They are very healthy, but leafy rather than fruity :(

Title: Re: Strawberries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: andygates on 24 June, 2010, 07:09:17 pm

If you want fruit, pinch out the runners.  Poor things cant do both.

Title: Re: Strawberries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: vorsprung on 25 June, 2010, 09:40:05 am

Several things spring to mind

1) what variety of strawberry is it?  Some are late
2) you are further north than me, maybe it's not warm enough yet
3) nitrogen and lots of water = leafy growth.  Add phosphates and cut back on the water

Title: Re: Strawberries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: Hello, I am Bruce on 25 June, 2010, 09:41:45 am

Quote from: vorsprung on 25 June, 2010, 09:40:05 am

Several things spring to mind

1) what variety of strawberry is it?  Some are late
2) you are further north than me, maybe it's not warm enough yet
3) nitrogen and lots of water = leafy growth.  Add phosphates and cut back on the water

I've been using nitrogen and lots of water -- I'll add some tomato fertiliser and reduce the watering to see what happens.

Title: Re: Strawberries - Loads of runners, but no flowers
Post by: Welsh Man on 26 June, 2010, 08:40:41 pm

Count your self lucky mine have all been eaten by mice as soon as they almost look ripe!.


 :'(