[bigben]

I bought and planted 30 strawberry plants in Oct of last year. Some have died and I initially followed the advice I read to snip runners in the first year to help the plants grow strong, I then let some root. So next year I will probably have around 45 plants with perhaps two thirds being 2 years old.

While the taste of the strawberries was excellent I found the yield to be low with perhaps a harvest of half a dozen berries a day at most. Never enough for a decent pudding and certainly not enough for jam. I have read that the yield is better in the second year. Could anyone tell me how much better?

I would like to get to the position of having enough for a decent pudding perhaps twice a week and to make jam. I am happy to buy another 30 but obviously dont want to if the yield from 2 year old plants will be good enough. I expect to take runners from next years growth so hope to build up numbers ready to set up another bed in a different place.

[monkeywobbler]

Depending on the variety, the yield will differ. The second year plants will produce LOTS more than first year plants. I wouldn't buy more, I would just save the runners.
Any rooted well by August should produce enough of a fruiting crown to produce decent crops next year.

[Honeysuckle]

I had (I say 'had' as the turkeys and geese ate them  ) roughly 40 plants and in the 2nd year I was getting a good 1-2lb a day!  I had 3 different varieties so was picking the from mid June to end July/beg of August