Garden Tempo

Strawberry planting guide

When to plant strawberries

Start with the strawberry type and the plant material you have. Dormant bare-root plants and nursery pots need different handling, and the final planting window belongs to local guidance rather than one date for the whole country.

Set the crown at the right depth Correct planting depth matters as much as the week you plant.

Use local spring conditions

Minnesota example
Dormant plants in April or MayUMN places potted transplants later, in May or June, for its climate.
Oregon example
Early spring, when the soil is workableOSU uses soil condition as the local planting cue.

Why this guide has no national planting date

These Extension examples use local conditions and different planting materials. Do not turn them into one date for every garden, or assume that a fall schedule applies in every state.

Choose a local route

Use a state page for a starting window, then compare it with current Extension guidance for your area.

Georgia strawberry guideGeorgia timing and regional context. Texas strawberry guideTexas timing and regional context. Open the planting calendarCompare the currently supported state calendars.

Pick the strawberry type first

UMN separates June-bearing, everbearing and day-neutral strawberries because their harvest patterns differ. June-bearing plants make one concentrated crop. Everbearing plants make two crops, while day-neutral plants can fruit through much of the growing season. Choose the type before deciding how you will use the bed.

Match the planting method to the plant

For bare-root plants, OSU says to spread the roots without bending them and set the crown halfway above and halfway below the soil line. Plant a container-grown strawberry at the same depth as its growing medium. A crown planted too low can rot.

Quick questions

Bare root or nursery pot?
Use the matching methodRoot placement and crown depth differ between bare-root and container-grown plants.
Should I use a fall date?
Only with local guidanceThis national guide does not prescribe a fall window for every state.