Daughter Plant (Runner) Production

Daughter plant (runner) production in the fruiting field varies depending on the cultivar, chilling history of the plants, and the planting date. The more chilling a plant received prior to setting in the fruiting field, especially chilling received in storage, and the earlier the plant is set the greater the runner production (11). A few days of very cool weather (night temperatures near freezing) in the fruiting field tends to reduce or eliminate further runner production. Runner production is undesirable in the fruiting field because the excessive plant growth interferes with harvesting and pesticide application (3, 5, 8), but more importantly the plant's food reserves may be used for unwanted vegetative growth and not for fruit produciton. Runners can be removed manually, or, as in other areas of the U.S., by suction type rotary mowers when runner plants are not rooted (32, 49). Sometimes the runner plants are set into places where the original plant has died. These appear to flower earlier than a normal re-set and establish without additional irrigation if not removed from the mother plant for a few days after setting. Of course, fruiting is delayed and yields are reduced with re-sets (unpublished data).