Effects of runner removal on productivity and plant growth of two day-neutral strawberry cultivars in Ontario, Canada

Day-neutral strawberry production is expanding in eastern Canada. Runner removal is a costly but recommended procedure in day-neutral strawberry production that is said to maximize fruit production. Trials were established in two distinct environments in Ontario in 2014 using the cultivars 'Albion' and 'eascape'. Runners were removed weekly, three times, once or not at all during the growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. Runner removal increased the total and marketable yields of 'Albion' in the planting year at both sites. There were few effects of runner removal in the second year at either site. In the cooler climate, both 'Albion' and 'Seascape' produced greater yields in the planting year with weekly runner removal but not with the less frequent treatments. In the warmer climate, the total yield of 'Albion' was reduced 30% when runners were not removed. Weekly runner removal took significantly longer than the other runner removal treatments at both sites although runner numbers were lower in the cooler climate. Runner removal also affected the number of runners formed, plant dry weight and crown numbers depending on the site and cultivar.