Half that amount in a trough @Treeface is plenty. I get tons of runners [elsanta] and have just collected about a dozen for a forum member. They're very easy plants, and suit me because I can't really be bothered with them. Too many slugs here. I leave some in the border at the front just for them and the birds etc. I've grown other varieties, but those are the most productive. I pick them before they're ripe, as that helps avoid slug damage.
I grow most of mine in troughs or pots. Refresh the compost each year, trim off excess foliage [at any time of year] bit of slow release food and that's about it. Water if needed. They do need good watering though, especially if you're in a dry area. Just peg those runners into pots beside the plants @Biglad. That's the easiest way. Plants are then already potted up ready to grow on. You need to think on a three year rotation with strawbs. Remove flowers from the runners in the first year, then they make decent plants the following year. Discard older plants after about 3 years.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just noticed that, on one of my old strawberry plants, two small leaves have grown half way along the stalk rather than just at the end. Have I been oblivious for several years or is this a rare occurrence?
Apologies for the terrible, blurred photo but the leaves are on the stalk in the foreground.
OH MY GOD THAT'S BAD, COMPOST THAT PLANT RIGHT NOW!!!!
No, just kidding . It's fine, happens all the time. I'm sure someone here will know why it happens, they always look like confused/aborted runners to me. They're fine to leave and just trim off during your normal cut back and tidy up when the plant goes dormant in a month or 2...
I've discovered the extra leaves phenomenon on 3 more of my older plants. Do you think they've just got to an age where they just do what they want and don't care what the world thinks #liberatedpensioners
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They're very easy plants, and suit me because I can't really be bothered with them. Too many slugs here. I leave some in the border at the front just for them and the birds etc. I've grown other varieties, but those are the most productive. I pick them before they're ripe, as that helps avoid slug damage.
I grow most of mine in troughs or pots. Refresh the compost each year, trim off excess foliage [at any time of year] bit of slow release food and that's about it. Water if needed. They do need good watering though, especially if you're in a dry area.
Just peg those runners into pots beside the plants @Biglad. That's the easiest way. Plants are then already potted up ready to grow on.
You need to think on a three year rotation with strawbs. Remove flowers from the runners in the first year, then they make decent plants the following year. Discard older plants after about 3 years.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I left the most airborne for when I return.
Apologies for the terrible, blurred photo but the leaves are on the stalk in the foreground.
No, just kidding
I was more intrigued than worried as it definitely an oddity amongst the strawbs I've had over the years.