[vanessa.xx]

Hi I've just bought some strawberry plants from aldi and some look like they are starting to flower is this too early do I need to remove the flower heads?

[Goosegirl]

I believe you should remove them so they put more energy into producing stronger plants that should be more productive later on.

[Mrs Bee]

I agree with Goosegirl.
They have probably been kept indoors and warm and think it is time to flower.
 I would take off their flowers too.

[simonwatson]

Yup. Take off the flowers. Get them hardened off and planted out with a good dose of fertilizer. Don't let them produce fruit this summer and you'll be rewarded with strong plants that will produce fruit year after year.

[Ivor Backache]

Yes, and later on the plants will send out runners and you will need to cut those off as well.

[Headgardener22]

I debate the "no fruit this year" policy. I have planted runners taken from plants the previous year and let them fruit the year I plant them. Always get some fruit. 2nd and 3rd years are better but I don't think its a hard and fast "no fruit" statement.

[adri123]

I'm just planting up strong runners from last year.  They are good strong plants and I'll leave them to fruit this year.  I'm not sure about the no fruit first year thing either...might be wrong though.

[LotuSeed]

Yeah about the no fruit in the first year idea...I don't bother with that. Most of the info I've read recommends replacing the plants every few years (4ish) anyway. It seems like a lot of faffing about, between removing blossoms and runners the first year and then selecting runners to replace old plants the next few years.

Since it's so early in the season, you could pinch out the blossoms that are there now and still have enough time to let them grow new ones. If the blossoms freeze you'll get no fruit. (If my understanding is correct).

[snowdrops]

I think it is recommended that you remove the flowers as suggested if the plants are planted in spring or later to allow them to establish well. If planted in the autumn to final position you can allow them to fruit the following summer as they will well established.