[Yana]

I've not known strawberries put put runners this early in the year or do they??
I planted runners last year and they now have well established fruit on them and they are sending out runners.
Should I cut these off as they will take strength from the fruit? They will produce more runners  in the year won't they?
Thanks 

[azubah]

It might depend on the variety. I had some ever bearing ones that put out runners, and fruited on the runners the same year.

[JayG]

My Albion everbearer runners from last year were transplanted into a new bed about a month ago, and seem to be much keener on flowering than growing to good sized plants first.

I read somewhere that everbearers can tend to grow, fruit, and try to reproduce themselves to exhaustion after just a year, and commercially are often replaced annually as a result.

That's pretty inconvenient, as is removing all the flowers and runners, if any, at this early stage of the season, but nevertheless that's what I'm trying this year (I've grown them for several years now and haven't had this problem before, or at least not to the same extent - possibly something to do with the very mild winter.  )

[Trillium]

All the strawberry specialist growers insist that for fruiting purposes, you must remove all runners asap. Otherwise, yes, they do steal energy from the main plant which in turn affects fruiting which decreases substantially with the amount of runners left to grow. Doesn't mean you can't pot on the runners but never leave them to size up before taking them off. Soon as you see that long antenna, snap it off. It may seem like a better deal to have lots and lots of plants but  your total yield will always be way less than a few big plants with heavy loads.

[Yana]

All the strawberry specialist growers insist that for fruiting purposes, you must remove all runners asap. Otherwise, yes, they do steal energy from the main plant which in turn affects fruiting which decreases substantially with the amount of runners left to grow. Doesn't mean you can't pot on the runners but never leave them to size up before taking them off. Soon as you see that long antenna, snap it off. It may seem like a better deal to have lots and lots of plants but  your total yield will always be way less than a few big plants with heavy loads.

If I take the runners off now, they will grow more later won't they? So I can pot these on after the fruit has finished.

[JayG]

If they're like mine, they may do but they might not - if your plants are in their first year they shouldn't need replacing for a couple of years (or are you looking to increase your stock?)

[Yana]

If they're like mine, they may do but they might not - if your plants are in their first year they shouldn't need replacing for a couple of years (or are you looking to increase your stock?)

I've got a bed that needs replacing as it is three years old now. I'll take a chance and cut the runners off and hope they grow some more. If not, I am sure I can get some cheap somewhere.