Albion strawberries do indeed produce runners. Runners are long, slender stems that grow out from the mother plant and produce new plants at their nodes. They are a natural way for the strawberry plant to reproduce and spread.
In the case of Albion strawberries, these runners can be quite prolific. They tend to grow rapidly and can quickly take up a lot of space in your garden if left unchecked. While this can be beneficial in terms of expanding your strawberry patch, it can also be a bit overwhelming if you have limited space or if you prefer a more controlled garden layout.
To maintain high production and prevent overcrowding, it is generally recommended to regularly cut back the runners on Albion strawberries. This can be done by simply snipping the runners with a pair of garden shears or scissors. By removing these runners, you can redirect the plant’s energy into producing more fruit instead of spreading out and creating new plants.
I have personally grown Albion strawberries in my own garden, and I can attest to their tendency to produce an abundance of runners. It’s important to stay on top of pruning and cutting back these runners to ensure that the plants remain productive and don’t become overcrowded.
One strategy that I found helpful is to regularly inspect the plants and identify any new runners that have started to form. By catching them early, you can easily remove them before they have a chance to grow too long and take root. This not only helps to control the spread of the plants but also allows you to choose the healthiest and strongest runners to propagate if you wish to expand your strawberry patch.
While Albion strawberries are known for their firm, conical fruit and consistent production throughout the season, they do produce a lot of runners that need to be managed. Regularly cutting back these runners is necessary to maintain high fruit production and prevent overcrowding in the garden.
