March 1, 2026

When to Plant Strawberries by Zone

Fresh strawberries from the garden taste nothing like what you buy at the store. Store berries are bred for shipping durability and shelf life. Garden strawberries are bred for flavor, and the difference is night and day.

Timing your strawberry planting correctly is the first step toward a good harvest. Get plants in the ground at the right time and they'll reward you for years.

Strawberry planting dates by zone

Three types of strawberries and when to plant each

June-bearing strawberries produce one big crop over 2-3 weeks in late spring/early summer. They're the highest-yielding type if you want a lot of berries at once (great for freezing and jam). Plant in early spring in zones 3-7 or fall in zones 8-10. Popular varieties: Earliglow, Jewel, Chandler.

Everbearing strawberries produce two smaller crops, one in late spring and another in early fall. Total yield is usually less than June-bearers, but the extended harvest season is nice. Good varieties: Ozark Beauty, Quinault.

Day-neutral strawberries produce fruit continuously from late spring through fall, as long as temperatures stay between 35-85°F. They stop producing during hot summers (above 85°F) and restart when it cools. Best for zones 4-7. Albion and Seascape are top performers.

Spring planting basics

For spring planting, get bare-root plants in the ground as early as the soil can be worked. Strawberries are cold-hardy and can handle light frosts after planting. The goal is to give them as much cool, moist spring weather as possible to build a strong root system before summer heat arrives.

The hardest part of spring planting: with June-bearers, you need to pinch off all flowers the first year. This feels brutal, but it forces the plant to put energy into runners and root development instead of fruit. The payoff comes the second year when established plants produce a much bigger crop.

Everbearing and day-neutral types can be allowed to fruit after July 1 of the first year.

Fall planting (zones 7-10)

In mild-winter zones, fall planting has real advantages. Plants establish roots through the cool, rainy months and produce a full crop the following spring with no need to pinch flowers the first year.

Plant in October or November in zones 8-10. In zone 7, September to early October works. Make sure plants have at least 6 weeks of growing weather before hard frost to establish roots.

Spacing and planting depth

Planting depth is critical with strawberries. The crown (the thick part where roots meet leaves) must sit exactly at soil level. Bury it too deep and it rots. Leave it too high and roots dry out.

Site selection

Strawberries need full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily). They also need well-draining soil. Wet feet cause root rot faster in strawberries than almost any other garden crop. If your soil stays soggy after rain, raised beds are the way to go.

Don't plant strawberries where tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, or potatoes grew in the last 3 years. These crops can leave behind verticillium wilt in the soil, and strawberries are very susceptible to it.

Winterizing strawberry plants

In zones 3-6, strawberry plants need winter mulch. After the first hard freeze (temps below 25°F), cover plants with 3-4 inches of clean straw (not hay, which contains weed seeds). This prevents freeze-thaw cycles from heaving plants out of the ground.

Remove mulch gradually in spring when new growth appears, but keep it nearby. If a late frost threatens while plants are blooming, you can toss the mulch back over them for protection. Frost-damaged flowers won't produce fruit.

Not sure about your growing zone? Our USDA hardiness zone guide can help you figure it out.

More guides: Best Vegetables to Plant in Spring | What to Plant in March