I live in Georgia, zone 7B/8A.

I am pretty sure these are everbearing strawberries, I bought them two seasons ago. The first season I planted them in a container and got a decent amount of fruit. Birds usually got to them first.

Last year I moved them to raised bed, I think that it was Memorial Day weekend. I did not get good production last year, probably because I traumatized them with the transplant before I could get them producing.

Part of what is throwing me off is that I did not get flowering this early last year, perhaps because they were in the pots. I just want to know if I should be pinching the strawberries? Do nothing and presumably most if not all of the flowers will become strawberries.

Two other questions:

Should I fertilize the strawberries?

As of now they are not mulched. Should I use hay or straw? I also have wood chip mulch that is pretty broken down, can I use that? Will that add significant nutrients? Should I do both, first top dress with mulch and then add straw or hay layer?

Thank you.