Everbearing strawberries typically spend their first year establishing a robust root system necessary to support healthy fruit production. We recommend pinching off the first flowers and early fruit to allow the plants to direct their energy toward developing a solid root system, an essential step in cultivating healthy, productive strawberry plants.
In the first year of production, strawberries may appear misshapen, mushy, or quickly die. But don't lose hope, as strawberry plants produce better in the second season and subsequent years once the plants are well established. So, keep nurturing your plants and look forward to a bountiful harvest in the future.