Wednesday, February 1, 2012
what to do with strawberry runners...
Ever wondered what those long dangly bits are that grow from your strawberry plants? They're called runners and basically what they are is the plant trying to expand. If you look closely you will see that underneath each bunch of new leaves growing on the runner, there will be a little root trying to shoot out the bottom. This is a new plant trying to grow. They usually try to throw out runners twice during the strawberry season and my advice (via my very knowledgeable mother) is to pick off the first set as soon as they start to shoot and toss them, otherwise the plant will throw all of it's energy into growing the runners instead of the strawberries. Not good. The second set of runners that appear after most of the fruiting is all over however, are the good ones. These are gold to a gardener and mean free plants!
All you need to do to get these 'free' plants is leave them on the main plant until the little root starts to appear (ideally a little more than in that photo above, look at photo below for an idea), then snip the runner off near the start. It will look like his one below. Hold the little clump of new leaves and gently snip the excess runners off either side and discard (sometimes you can get two plants off the one runner, mostly just the one though). Pop this new little plant into a pot filled with good quality potting mix, keep well watered and out of direct sun for the first week. Leave until growing big and strong before transplanting into your strawberry patch or give away to neighbours and friends, especially those with kids!
P.s thanks for your overwhelming support of my last post! Just a quick question, would any of you be interested in a post on making sushi? Also Ada's first day at school has gone really well, no dramas at all, yay! Now for Kye's first day at kindy tomorrow...
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I did not know that about snipping off the first runner of the season. Maybe that's why my strawbs haven't produced well. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYep it totally zaps all their energy, better luck next season :-)
DeleteI must pass that bit of info to my bestfriend. Her husband grows a variety of vegetables for the home table and they've got 2 troughs of strawberries that never seem to produce more than a handful of berries. Fab tip!! Thanks Emma.
ReplyDeleteMine seem to shoot out before I get a chance to catch them! I obviously need to be more diligent :)
ReplyDeleteOurs do too, they are crazy little things ;-)
DeleteMy strawberries never made it to this flourishing point, unfortch, but should they ever succeed, I'll keep this good advice in mind :)
ReplyDeleteHi Emma, thanks for the great tip on getting strawberry plants for free! Can't wait for the spring to experiment in my garden.
ReplyDeleteA post on making sushi? Yes please! :)
Hope Kye's first day at kindy goes well.
Thanks Blandine :-) Okay will work on that sushi post for sometime soon...
DeleteThank you for the strawberry info! Now I know why I did not get many strawberries last year! Can't wait for summer!
ReplyDeletethanks for the wonderful tip!
ReplyDeleteLOVELY GREETINGS
Maria
What a great tip! Yes please a post on suhsu making would be great! I always tend to muck my sushi when rolling - it's probably just me and my unco-ness or I put too much sushi vinegar in and the rice becomes too sticky!
ReplyDeleteKia ora Emma yes please to the sushi post! keep up this lovely, lovely work Thanks Sam
ReplyDeleteI'm on it, thanks Sam :-)
DeleteI love your blog, especially the gardening posts. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome :-)
DeleteHuh, I should totally grow strawberries on my balcony. I only have oregano, parsley, chive & mint right now, but hey, this just gave me new ideas.
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Marie-Anne :-) We have our strawberries in pots at the moment.
DeleteOh dear my strawberries were sadly neglected like the rest of my garden and they have been over run with mint & nasturtiums! Yes to sushi please, I have never attempted it but a little inspiration & I may well give it a go :)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have found your blog - I am planning on starting a little organic garden this summer, and need all the help I can get. Nice tip about the strawberries! If you hadn't said something, I'd have left the runners on.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlae, welcome! Sorry my gardening posts will be a bit scarce over the next little while. We've moved house recently and not had the time to dig in a new garden yet. Hopefully soon, once the weather cools down :-)
DeleteHow long will the original strawberry plant bear fruit? Is there a point at which I should replace the original plant with the young, newly-rooted offshoot?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I'm not sure, I have found that our plants tend to look a bit raggidy after a couple of years, and they do enjoy a good feed of fertiliser often. We keep our originals and just keep adding to them with the new shoots every year too :-)
Delete