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Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Plant strawberry crowns in early spring, about 2–6 weeks before your last spring frost, as soon as the soil can be worked. The dormant plants handle cold well, and early planting lets roots settle before summer heat. Cover open flowers if a frost is forecast.
- Frost tolerance
- Hardy plants; flowers are frost-tender
- Soil temperature
- Plant as soon as soil is workable
- Days to harvest
- June-bearers fruit the next year
The rule we use
- Plant crowns: 2–6 weeks before the last spring frost
Which type to plant
June-bearing strawberries give one big crop over 2–3 weeks in late spring. They're the best choice for jam and freezing, but they don't fruit much in their first year.
Day-neutral types fruit in flushes from early summer until fall frost, with smaller crops each time. They suit small gardens and short-season areas. Everbearing types sit in between, with a spring and a late-summer crop.
Planting depth matters
Set each plant so the crown, where the roots meet the leaves, sits exactly at the soil surface. Too deep and the crown rots; too shallow and the roots dry out. Spread the roots out and trim any longer than about 5 inches.
Space plants 12–18 inches apart in well-drained, sunny ground. Avoid beds where tomatoes, potatoes or peppers grew recently, as they share soil diseases.
First-year care
For June-bearers, pinch off flowers in the first year so the plants put energy into roots and runners; you'll get a much bigger crop the following year. For day-neutral plants, pinch flowers for about the first 6 weeks only.
Strawberry flowers open early and are easily killed by frost even when the plants are fine. If a frost is forecast at bloom time, cover the bed overnight. After the ground freezes in late fall, mulch with straw to protect the crowns.
Seeds and supplies for strawberries
- Strawberry seeds and plants at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- Frost cloth to cover plants if a late cold night is forecast.
- Straw mulch to keep berries clean and protect crowns in winter.
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Questions about planting strawberries
What month do you plant strawberries?
Usually March or April in mild areas and April or early May in the North. Penn State advises getting them in before June. Enter your ZIP above for dates based on your frost records.
Can strawberry plants survive a frost?
The plants yes, the flowers no. Frost turns open flowers black in the center, and those won't make fruit. Cover them on cold nights.
Can I plant strawberries in the fall?
In mild-winter areas, yes, and commercial growers there often do. In cold areas spring planting is safer, because fall plants may heave out of the ground over winter.
Sources
- Growing Strawberries, Penn State Extension
- Strawberry production (Lantz, 2010), University of Maryland Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)