Strawberry runners

[MClan]

I have 36 strawberry plant. Some summer and some perpetual. They appear to be producing runners. All I know is that in this first year is that I am supposed to remove them so the plants fruit more/better. I've cut a few off with scissors but am now really worried if I've done it right. Also do I just compost them or can I still do something with them?

[okra]

Strawberries generally need replacing after about 3 years when their productivity reduces. Even on new plants it does no harm to eave one or two runners to increase the number of plants. I've also read that it's best not to let runners grow on first year plants but from experience it does not seem too have much effect on the crop. Any runners removed can be added to the compost.

[Odsox]

I grow all my strawberries in containers, so probably not relevant, but I only keep my plants for the one year and when the plants have finished fruiting I allow the runners to grow and produce next years new plants.
Perpetual fruiting ones I cut off the runners until they have produced a second crop and then let them grow.
But then I'm weird.

[diggernotdreamer]

I don't think that is weird, I grow my strawberries the same, I have them in plastic baskets in the tunnel, they don't take up any bed space as they are along the path, I can chuck them outside when they have finished fruiting and I can take off the runners. I wanted some of those everbearers, but was too late, no-one had any left when I tried to order, how did your dried strawb go Tony, I thought about that, I had some cereal with dried strawberry, it was really nice

[Odsox]

how did your dried strawb go Tony, I thought about that, I had some cereal with dried strawberry, it was really nice

Rather yummy actually, which surprised me.
Very concentrated flavour and as we only did three they got eaten straight away, but (like your blackcurrants) would be fantastic on muesli.
The only commercial dried strawberries in breakfast cereal that I've tried before have been freeze dried to a crisp, but also very nice.

My perpetual strawbs are Finesse which are ideal for containers as the have very long trusses that keep the berries well away from the soil and taste even better than my Royal Sovereign.
If you want some I can take more plants, assuming that they will produce runners again after the second crop that's starting now.

[daffodiltulip]

I accidentally strimmed the leaves off my strawberry plants the other day. Will they still fruit next year?

[dave45]

probably... they seem pretty indestructible to me!

[diggernotdreamer]

I cut all the leaves off mine in the autumn, they aren't much good next year anyway and I think it prevents leaves going mildewy, they always grow again and produce loads of fruit

[Odsox]

Years ago, before perpetual fruiting strawberries were developed, it was common practice to mow all the leaves off strawberry fields at the end of summer picking to produce another small crop a couple of months later.
As Dave says, they are a job to kill.

[daffodiltulip]

Good news then - that's a relief!