I just noticed two of them. I have not planted these and I don't know what variety they are. They are along the edge. Should I leave the flowers alone or pluck them? When can I expect fruit? Should I add any fertiliser? Thanks.
Tina, there is a really good chance that is what is called a wild strawberry, birds love them and spread the seeds where ever they go. Does this look like yours? The birds always get to mine first, I don't know what they taste like. http://www.plantpress.com/plant-encyclo ... =1834&pi=1 Being wild and very hardy in all types of soil and weather conditions I wouldn't think they needed to be fertilized. Do not pluck flowers off of any plant or tree that produces fruit or vegies or you will not have fruit or vegies on that plant.
I have them all over the place as a ground cover, and they set teensy sweet fruit from spring clear into mid-fall, sometimes big enough to bother picking, usually no bigger than a fingernail. My kids like gathering them up now and then, otherwise the birds (and slugs) get to have them. They spread very nicely on their own and don't mind occasionally being walked on.
I have them all over as a ground cover too. The fruit is tiny but very sweet. You need to pick a whole lot of them to get a mouth full!
Plant breeders have been putting out strawberries with pink or yellow flowers for awhile now, just let them do their thing and let the little fruits attract birds! I have harsh soil and the yellow-flowered ones still manage to thrive so I don't suppose you'd need to do much with your pink ones.
