Strawberry Runners Advice Needed Please.

[gonz]

Hello everyone.

Can anyone tell me how long it takes for runners to root?  They are still attached to the strawberry plant at the moment.

Thanks

Sam x

[gonz]

[valmarg]

Consulted OH, because he's in charge of such matters. ;D  He reckons they should only take about a week to root.

This is where I (as a fuchsia grower) apply the gentle forefinger and thumb test.  If you gently pull at the leaves of the runners, and they start to come out of the compost - they are not rooted.  If, on the other hand, the show resistance to the test, they should be rooted and the umbilical cord can be cut. ;D ;D

Not very scientific, but we find it works.

valmarg

[allaboutliverpool]

You will notice that they have small stumpy rootlets.

You can speed things up by pegging the small plantlets to the soil with a loop of wire like a large hairpin.

Greater sophistication is burying a pot of soil or compost  level with the surface and pegging the plantlet to that.

In 2-3 weeks you shoulld be able to detatch it from the parent, but leaving it longer will mean a stronger plant, if you are going to leave one on each runner.

If you want to leave more, say 3 or 4 you should not remove from the parent untill they have all rooted, although it is said that the ensuing plants are not as strong.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments2_my_allotment_in_liverpool.html