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This is the first time for me growing strawberries. They are the type General so they should be large and very tasty.
I have planted them in a raised bed so as to ensure they get plenty of food.
The aspect is NE to SW and I have large trees on the south side so light can be a problem at times.
Used the bed as a compost bin to help fill it up last year then capped it off with recycled compost from the council.
Planted the strawberries in April and put straw around them.
Then I covered them with hoops and put fleece over the top.
They have come on quite well and are starting to colour up nicely.
The size is not large as described but small and sweet.
The question is do I leave runners on or should I remove them to get bigger strawberries? ??? ??? ???

I would personally remove the runners, wait to see which plants produce the best fruit and then only propagate the runners from those plants.

I'm quite surprised at how early my plants started running this year.

QuoteThe question is do I leave runners on or should I remove them to get bigger strawberries?

What you describe seems OK to me!

To explain; You have very young plants so to get any fruit so soon is a bonus, and the fact that they are small is not surprising either because the plants are immature.

Had you planted these plants say last September/October then you most likely would have got the size of the fruit as advertised.

Regarding the 'runners' I doubt taking them off now will make much difference to the fruit size.

If they were mine I would root the runners to increase my stock for next year.

This would then give me batches of first and second year plants for the future ( 2nd year plants are generally the best fruiters)

Then next year I would do the same again and to replace the ones you planted this April.

This link might assist you;http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Strawberries/Strawberries.htm

Landimad.   Hope you don't mind me joining in to ask Tee Gee which is best to protect fruit.  Straw or mats.  I don't mind investing in some good mats if they last for a few years.
I like the idea of 1st 2nd and 3rd year planting.   Must look out my hairpins to start taking runners.

I'm afraid I don't phaff about with straw and mats.

I did lay a weed retarding mat once and I am convinced I had more slug/snail damage than I did without it.

I got the feeling I had created a lovely dormitary for the slugs and snails to get out of the mid day sun.

I only use a net as seen here (picture taken yesterday);

I have uploaded some more pictures to show you what I have done.
Check out the gallery in my profile to see.

The mountains around me are covered with bracken which I harvest and store under cover, I use this dried bracken instead of straw - farmers use is for animal bedding

ARRGH >:(
pesky Blackbirds have been feasting upon my bed of strawberries and left the half eaten berries to ruin the crop until I can get to sort the bad ones out from the good.

Apparently the blackbirds come back to the strawberry they started on to eat first and finish that before starting another......in which case i must have had quite a crowd on my before i got the net up!

Quote from: Plot69 on June 07, 2009, 11:15:02
I'm quite surprised at how early my plants started running this year.

Mine seemed to start early as well

Landimad, I'm no expert on strawbs (but have grown & eaten them for many years) but the photos in your gallery look great - well done! And I think next years crop will be the true tester. I was given some runners in Sept / Oct last year and I'm not expecting too  much off them this year, but looking forward to next  ;D
I was told only to keep the 1st runner and not the 2nd/3rd ones as the 1st will produce better /more fruit. Not sure if this is true or not but its what I do......
1066

I will try to get the runners into some pots for a succession of fruiting plants.
Seems like the raised beds are going to be a hit for the missus as she cant get down to the ground. She just sits on the edge and scoffs the berries.
The kids are not great lovers of fruit but hopefully when they taste these they will change their minds.

We've eaten our first this morning.
Its was so good I cant begin to describe it.
We did raised beds 2 years ago and put in 100 plants.
They were all from 3 plants that we got on offer for about £1 for the lot.
Pot on the runners and keep them. You can always give them away if you don't use them yourself.
We still have jam from last year and berries in the freezer.
So in essence they have last for 12 months.
They are the best thing that we grow in my opinion.

Greenfists,

OOOh so green with envy as you have what I yearn for strawberries coming out of your ears.

My first red one.............tasted good :)