Pinching Strawberries

I felt a little bit like a liar when I introduced M to the strawberry plants.

"They'll grow strawberries?" she asked, and I said yes, though we really won't let them until next year.

I dutifully pinched off all the flowers and developing berries before we planted them. The idea is to divert the plants' energy away from fruit and towards sinking good roots and expanding sideways to fill the space. I hope M forgets about them until May 2016.