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strawberry leaves

• Message 1. 

  Posted by diggingdoris (U13981971) on Tuesday, 14th June 2011

  I had 2 plants last year that did not bolom but gave lots of runners for me to plant up. This year all of them are looking fantastic with huge leaves but no sign at all of a flower. What have I done wrong?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by MerryDebsGarden (U14906111) on Tuesday, 14th June 2011

  Last year we had the same problem: lots of runners and no flower shoots initially, and at some point I decided to get rid of all runners from their bases, after which came the shoots that bore flowers and fruits. I do not know if this is a coincidence, but I interpreted it as follows. The plant has two ways of propagating: by producing runners, or by producing seeds. If you chop off the runners, it will channel its energy of propagation by means of seeds, i.e., fruits. Such 'pinching off' is recommended for many other plants (like tomatoes).
  
  The same plants have survived the winter and we have been enjoying the fruits for the last month, since this has been a rather warm spring.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by flowerchild (U14083640) on Tuesday, 14th June 2011

  
  Maybe you can find the answer here?
  
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Tuesday, 14th June 2011

  Are you saying that both the original plants and the new ones didn't flower?- do you know the variety ? Did you feed the plants in anyway- if so what did you use ?
  A lot of questions but it might help to solve the problem.
  
  Geoff
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Tuesday, 14th June 2011

  I was thinking the same way as Geoff and I thought Debs reasoned it out nicely!
  
  To take her point further not just the runners but the plants should also be cut back after fruiting, so in your case as you did not get any fruit, you should do it at the end of what would have been the fruiting season!
  
  This link might help!
  
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by diggingdoris (U13981971) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  I don;t know the variety as the original plant appeared as a surprise. Maybe from my compost or from the birds. The original plants and the runner ones BOTH have not flowered. I have been feeding with tomato feed and phosphogen about once a month. So maybe that's why I've been unsuccessful. Not enough food. Many thanks for your advice.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  Nothing wrong with the feeding regime-If you have had no flowers and therefore no fruit for 2 years I wonder what you have got there- chances are if nothing by now then there never will be - but you never know!!
  
  Geoff

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Cillit Bang (U14908374) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  I also have this problem, but slightly weirder.
  
  I bought three elsanta plants from a carbooty. I'm growing all three in hanging baskets, and have been watering/feeding regularly (as per various instructions that I have found). Two of the plants grew amazingly fast, and are sending off dozens of runners but no flowers. The other grew slower, but has flowered and now grown fruit. Do I write off the two non fruiting plants as duds or give them another chance next year? It seems that nobody really knows why they send runners instead of fruiting, but I do quite enjoy the theories!
  
  Gareth
  
  (first time post BTW)

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  doris, it could be a case of over-fertilising. Too much fertiliser can work against flowering. Phostrogen, in particular, is pretty potent stuff.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  Hello again - I think you perhaps should leave them for another year but do absolutely nothing with them- perhaps you can bully them into performing.!!!
  
  Geoff

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  I can't put my finger on it but I think it will be in part, due to how they have been looked after since being rooted.
  
  For instance I find rooted runners planted out pre-winter rather than post winter perform better.
  
  I don't know if they need some form of stratification to induce flowering, and flowers means fruit.
  
  But I think it must be something along these lines!
  
  So my guess is; your plants have been protected from the cold prior to you planting them out.
  
  The other thing is you say you have been 'feeding' I never do, other than a top dressing of FB&B when I tidy them up in early spring just as the leaves are appearing.
  
  I think subsequent feeding promotes leaf growth rather than flowers.
  
  My theory is; all a plant wants to do is 're-produce' and if it is encouraged to make leaves it will do.
  
  Perhaps my lot are stressed to a point that they have to flower a.s.a.p. otherwise the leaves will die off before they do. ( that is obviously a guess) but then I could be right.
  
  All I do know is I am picking fruit at the moment quicker than I can eat it.
  
  Sorry but thats all I have to offer.
  
  

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  I'm with you, Tee Gee. Anything that produces fruit is seeking to reproduce itself and most likely to feel the need to reproduce itself if its existence feels threatened. It's a fine line between neglect and tough love but tough love will always just about guarantee you fruit.
  
  That's why I constantly advise against overwatering and overfertilising. Anything. I watered my toms - in the ground - today for the first time in 10 days and it's been around 25C every day. They're thriving, churning out fruit.

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by diggingdoris (U13981971) on Thursday, 16th June 2011

  It sounds as if I'm molly coddling them too much. I'll have to be tougher and ignore them for a bit! Many thanks everyone.

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