You start with mommas. Then for 2 years you remove runners. On 3rd year you let runners root while attached to mommas. When they look rooted well, transfer to a new area. On 4th year you pick last of the mommas' berries and next year start over with the new ones. 1st year you should pick off half of flowers to give more energy to young plants. Runners "drain" the parent plant. So the more you have the less berries you will have off the parents. That is why you remove runners for first 2 years. The plants peak out after 4 years so that is why you do the cycle. If you want to make a lot of plants to start, then do so and take off 1/2 the flowers each year till you have the number of plants you want. Best production is normally 2nd and 3rd years. I got 2 1/2 gallons off or 24 plants this year on 3rd year. I take the best looking of the runners for the next cycle, I don't have time to know if they are first or last. It has worked quite well for 9 years. In early spring throw down some 10-10-10, not much, I do 2 handfuls for 24 plants. Instead of hilling them, I have them in raised beds. I loose some to mold and slugs and birds but I get quite enough.

Many thanks to others who responded,

Peter

Marduk's answer is correct. It really is easy and a delight. I brag that my strawberries are home grown without chemicals.

Can't say why exactly, but have mixed success with ours.

My strawberry plants are now producing the usual 'runners' but I'm not sure which is likely to be the more productive for future years. Should I choose the first 'planlet' (which will be the largest at this stage) or the last one to mature. Does is it really matter and if so, why?