When to plant strawberries
Plant strawberries 1–4 weeks before the last spring frost in spring, or 4–6 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F. That works out to zone 5b (early April to late April), zone 7a (mid March to early April) and zone 9a (early February to late February).
Strawberries planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall | strawberries ready from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a | Apr 17 – May 8 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 | Jun 27 |
| 4b | Apr 15 – May 6 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 | Jun 25 |
| 5a | Apr 13 – May 4 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 | Jun 23 |
| 5b | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 | Jun 17 |
| 6a | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Sep 3 – Sep 17 | Jun 11 |
| 6b | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | Sep 7 – Sep 21 | Jun 5 |
| 7a | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 | May 28 |
| 7b | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 | May 18 |
| 8a | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 | May 8 |
| 8b | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 | Apr 28 |
| 9a | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 | Apr 14 |
| 9b | Jan 7 – Jan 28 | Oct 29 – Nov 12 | Mar 19 |
How to plant strawberries
| Plant as | bare-root crowns |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 50°F or warmer |
| Depth | Crown at soil level |
| Spacing | 12–18 in |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 60–90 days |
Set the crown exactly at the soil surface: buried crowns rot, exposed roots dry out.
Pinch off first-year flowers on June-bearers for a bigger crop the next year.
Plant bare-root crowns early, while they are still dormant.
When to harvest strawberries
June-bearers fruit the year after planting; everbearers and day-neutrals start in late summer of the first year. Pick berries fully red.
Planting strawberries in warm climates
In zones 8–10 plant strawberries in fall (October–November) for a winter and spring harvest.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.