[Shamps]

Hi folks,

I have some strawberries in, and theyre flowering just a few cheeky questions to ask   

Do I remove these flowers so they concentrate on the fruit?
Do plants that look stunted etc need to be removed as they may have a virus?
Do I remove the runners?
and I think Im right in having straw around them to protect the fruit from the soil and water etc??

ta  once again, 

[robbodaveuk]

Hi Stamps,

Do not remove the flowers, they are the fruit (eventually).

The plants don't all grow the same shape and size, there is probably nothing wrong with them, leave them to flower and fruit.

Yes, take the runners off, after they have fruited, they will send out more runners, you can keep these if you want more plants.

Straw is OK to use as it does keep the fruits reasonable dirt free, but it is also a hiding place for slugs, so keep your eye out for them.

  Robbo.

[BazTheGardener]

I'm sure but not definite as it's late

Strawberries are formed from the pollinated flowers so no flower no strawberries.

Hope this helps. until an expert comes along.

[paintedlady]

LOL - without flowers, there'd be no fruit or seeds!  No-one heard of the birds & the bees?     Flowers are there to attract the bees so that they'll carry the pollen between plants, which then fertilise the immature seeds (eggs)  The fruit develops so that it'll attract other animals and birds to pick, carry away and eat, thereby spreading the seeds inside (or outside as you see on strawberries) somewhere elsewhere, therefore preventing overcrowding, and usually with their own personal package of manure 

[Shamps]

heh-heh  ,

Maybe in my midnight scan of the internet I misread something or got confused with runners or something in the wee hours, sorry folks   

[paintedlady]

  LOL we can all look clever in the light of day Shamps.  Just one more thing before I forget - strawberry plants are usually only productive for about 3 years (the quantity & quality of fruit will start to go downhill), so try and keep & pot on some of the runners so that you not only increase your stock, but always have a supply of new plants that have a bit more vigour for each new season.  If you get different varieties and there is one that is especially nice, it'll be great to always have some growing 

[DD.]

What you may have got confused with is that some recommend the removal of flowers in the first year, so that all the energy is put into the plant.

In practice I think most amateur growers leave them on to at least get a taster in the first year!

[Shamps]

Ah yes I found what site I was reading in the wee hours (silly me, I'm not going to be doing that again  ) it said "If you plant them in spring, remove any flower buds from the plants so they concentrate their energy on developing roots and becoming established". Silly me  - I dunno heh-heh 

[sclarke624]

Shamps do you rub shoulders with my MIL, the take all the flowers of cucumbers and tomatoes MIL. LOL

They will be the best strawbs you ever tasted and with runners you won' be short of new plants, enjoy.

[Shamps]

heh-heh,

Ya see I always do this, I always say and do daft things and I really dont mean too! Watch this space for more Shamps whoopsies tee hee 

[sclarke624]

Yeah but with you its endearing big difference