[Kirpi]

When you buy strawberry plants from garden shops, B&Q etc - are they in their first or second year? In which case, can you harvest the fruit the first year you get them or is it best to take off the flowers in the first year? I think I know the answer, but thought I would check.

[Totty]

I have never removed any flowers, pick and eat every fruit that ripens. Every other year i plant up runners and then replace older plants with these. Second year generally best.

Totty

[GrannieAnnie]

I'm pretty sure the ones I bought from Marshall's are 1st year fruit.  They have only been in a matter of weeks, but are full of fruit, and there is no way am I NOT going to eat them 

[Trillium]

Shop plants are normally 1 year plants so that they can root and adapt to your own soil conditions, then fruit the next year (in theory). Don't know of many folk who listen to advice and pinch off first year flowers to encourage overall plant growth  2nd and 3rd years are peak fruiting years.

[PembsPanther]

I was always led to believe they were 1st year plants, as other have said though when you see it full of flowers it is hard to pick them all of and have no fruit, mine have gone wild this year with runners I am going to pot the runners up today so more plants for next year anyhoo