Question: Strawberry Plants Have No Runners?
Adrian asked:
I have 2 strawberry plants which are doing very well! I grow them in a length of PVC pipe which keeps the strawberries off the ground and works really well. My question is when i take the strawberry off the plant do i just leave the stork on the plant or do i trim it back? also, i don’t seem to be getting any runners? Thanks, Adrian.
Answer to: Strawberry Plants Have No Runners?
Adrian,
When you harvest your strawberries, you do not need to trim back the stalk to which the strawberry used to be attached. It will turn brown and eventually die back. As for strawberry runners, it depends on which strawberry variety you are growing. June-bearers will often produce lots of runners, while varieties of everbearing and day-neutral strawberries will often produce fewer. A few strawberry species produce no runners and have to be propagated by seed (but it is unlikely that yours is of this type). If you keep the plants alive for a full year, at some point you will likely see it produce runners depending on where you live, your climate, etc. If you let them or help them root, you can take advantage of the perennial nature of the plants and grow them indefinitely. To do that, implement the method described on this page: Transplanting Strawberries. And, good luck!
This is a question submitted to StrawberryPlants.org by a reader. See the Strawberry FAQ for more questions and answers.
Maggie Weston
For about 30 years my succession of varied strawberry plant types always grew runners but those which I have bought from the same shop and same variety these last 10 years do not. I deduce that they have been bred without runner development capability to encourage increased plant purchasing. I am moving to a new home ( from NZ South Island to the North Island) soon so will seek a different variety from a different garden product firm.
Lee
Hi ,
I have strawberry w runners but I wish to get the very aromatic non runner type for hedge n possibly criss pollinate..someone in New Jersey usa had a one in a pot with a pointy small fruit a week to ripen .smeed the ant from across the street was it aromatic flowers? Leaves? Or fruit..what variety and where can I buy a plant instead of seed?
Shelley
My strawberry plants have always produced runners in the past. But not one runner on any of the plants this year. Why?
Drunken berry
I have white aplines that I found hiking. They only grow from seed but don’t know what to do to for fertilizing. First 4 years lots of fruit daily now small and sparse. Same with my annuals reds. Sparse and small with odd shapes.
Marylamb
The older the plants get, the less they produce. This is true of most living things!
Kazzi
Hi I brought symphony strawberry plants, still no runners of yet sadly their inn hanging baskets doing OK how often do you feed them
Aimee
I have heard that if you cut off the blooms the plant can focus more on spreading out. Is this true?
Mr. Strawberry
Aimee,
Yes, in a sense. The purpose of removing the blossoms is to allow the roots to develop better. The stronger roots then allow greater vegetative growth and berry production subsequently. Good luck!
J van Rooyen
Please could some one tell me which is the best variety to grow that don’t have runners I live on the north west coast of Tasmania and we have a modeate climate with up to three or four light frosts a year.
J VAN ROOYEN
Mr. Strawberry
J van Rooyen,
Virtually all strawberry plants will produce runners. There are a couple that produce very few, but importing them to Tasmania will likely pose an insurmountable obstacle. I’m sorry!
Marylamb
Albion
lesley
Hi there folks.. Uk calling…
I’ve been waiting on my Strawberries to produce a runner, but not a single 1 to date! I have never grown Strawberries without getting tons of runners, it feels so bizarre!! The fruit was great, so sweeeeeeet, and juicy.. just a delight to savour, and the yield was ok too. Anyhow, i want more, lots more… but no runners, hmm 🙁 Now i’ve researched and found out a couple of varieties only produce fruit, no runners, and you have to grow them from seed (of which we’ve all eaten like greed cows), grrr.. now i’ve gotta wait til next year :/ crumbs!!
Mr. Strawberry
lesley,
Be patient! It isn’t too late for the plants to put out a few runners. So, just keep an eye on them and there is a good chance you’ll see a few before fall rolls around. Good luck!
Stephanie
Well, I have June-bearers but I’ve been waiting almost two months to get runners and I have yet to spot a single runner. I planted them around the beginning of last month. Got the ones that were already mostly grew at Walmart when I brought them.
Mr. Strawberry
Stephanie,
Give them some more time! They’ll likely put out runners in the next month or so. Good luck!
v jensen
Re Runners.
I live in Far North Queensland, Australia.
Last year I bought some plants in the local supermarket. They do not thrive very well and have produced only a little fruit. (No great surprise.) And they have produced no runners at all. -Which was a surprise. – Is there a variety that has no runners? Or, is it simply because they do not thrive?
v jensen.
Straw Berry
v jensen,
There are a few varieties that produce very few or no runners. They usually produce very aromatic and tasty fruit, but the fruit is both fewer and smaller than most varieties that produce runners. It may be that your plants are of the type that produce few runners, or they could be just failing to thrive, as you mention. Hope that helps, and good luck!