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
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
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