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Why remove the whiskers from flowering strawberries: dacha myths and reality
22.05.2023 19:17
Finally, the strawberries have blossomed in the beds, and summer residents are already making plans for the future harvest. Many of them don’t even suspect that the harvest could be better.
We will tell you whether it is worth removing the runners on flowering strawberries and whether it is true that this can increase the crop yield.
Gardeners have not yet managed to come to a consensus on this matter. However, there are at least 3 reasons to regularly remove the shoots on strawberries.
Reason one
You need to remove the runners just because otherwise the strawberry will grow and will surprise you with an abundance of leaves, but not berries. All the nutrients will go to the development of new bushes and shoots.
Reason two
Further, in dense thickets, pests will appear, which are often carriers of diseases. Dampness will provoke the appearance of mold and fungus.
Reason three
Instead of orderly rows, in which it is convenient to move without fear of crushing the harvest with your feet, you will get a chaotic meadow.
When to delete
Experienced gardeners advise to start trimming the runners when the strawberries start to bloom. In this case, all the plant's energy will go to forming berries.
When not to delete
After fruiting, the runners can be left alone, especially if you want to breed the variety you like. But even in this case, only the first rosettes on the runners, closer to the mother bushes, are suitable for propagation.
It is not recommended to leave more than two such branches on one plant.
And if the strawberries are already bearing fruit and the berries are ripening, then removing the shoots will not affect the harvest.
