Planting Strawberry Runners

[Peasticks]

I have bought some bare root strawberry runners off the internet, they arrived in early Dec and I heeled them in with the other fruit I ordered

I would like to plant them in pots now in the (unheated) greenhouse to see if I can get them a bit ahead. I have never bought strawberry runners before and have two questions

Will they fruit this year?
Do I remove the brown foilage that is currently on them?

Many thanks from a real amateur!

[Peasticks]

[telboy]

Hi Peasticks,
I would suggest moving to your prepared planting area out when the ground is warmer.
Pick off any flowers this season.
Next year, cover with cloches if you want to encourage early cropping. Leave the brown leaves.
Good luck!

[realfood]

Well, I would cut off the brown leaves with scissors before planting them in pots in the greenhouse. And I would let them fruit. I did that successfully last year for a very early crop of fruit. Remember that if you still have them in the greenhouse when they are flowering, you will need to hand pollinate.
I shifted mine outside, still in their pots, into a coldframe, but allowing access to bees.