Why are my strawberries small?

Small strawberries are usually caused by: too many fruits per plant — thin flowers early to leave 8–10 per plant; potassium deficiency — switch to high-potassium fertiliser at flowering; poor pollination — hand-pollinate using a soft brush; old runner plants (2nd year) producing smaller fruits than first-year runners; or inconsistent watering. Remove runners during fruiting to concentrate energy. Replace plants every 2 years for best fruit size.