When to Plant Strawberries: Spring in the North, Fall in the South

Strawberries are a cool-season perennial, and the right planting season flips from spring to fall as you move south. In the North, plants go in during spring and grow runners all summer; June-bearing beds give their first real crop the following spring (Utah State). In Texas, Florida and much of the Southeast, gardeners grow them more like a winter annual: plant in fall, pick in spring, then pull the plants. Texas A&M AgriLife horticulturist Russell Wallace says spring is "really the wrong time of year" to plant in Texas, because it gets too hot too quickly.

June-bearing, everbearing and day-neutral

For more on the three types and on companion plants, see what to plant with strawberries.

Spring planting in cold-winter areas

• Bare-root (dormant) plants: plant as soon as the ground can be prepared, but not when the soil is wet; Illinois says March or April, to give plants time to establish before hot weather. UMN plants dormant transplants in April and May, once the soil is warm enough to easily get a trowel into.
• No need to wait for frost: Utah State says dormant bare-root plants can go in before the risk of spring frost has passed. Clemson says frost generally won't harm new plants and suggests transplanting when the temperature is 40 to 50°F.
• Potted plants: UMN plants them soon after purchase, once the risk of frost has passed (May and June in Minnesota).
• Time of day: Illinois suggests setting plants on a cloudy day or in the late afternoon or evening.

Fall planting in the South

Where winters are mild, fall planting gives larger plants and a bigger spring harvest. Texas A&M says strawberries are best transplanted from mid-September to late October, and its 2026 guidance says September and October are the best months, with planting possible through early December at the cost of smaller harvests. Travis County Extension's annual system for Austin sets plants from mid-September to early November and harvests mainly from late February through early May.

NC State Extension publishes recommended windows for annual-hill (plastic mulch) strawberries across the South and Southeast. These are commercial dates, but they show how planting moves earlier as you go north or up in elevation:

How to plant

Protecting flowers from frost

The plants are hardy, but the blossoms are not. Texas A&M says flower buds and fruit need protection once they form in late winter, and Utah State says late spring frosts can kill the early flowers that make the largest berries. Cover blooming plants on cold nights with a blanket or tarp (Utah State, UF/IFAS); Illinois also mentions spun-bonded row covers and says to remove straw covers during the day.

Winter mulch in the North

UMN says the crown can be killed at 15°F, so northern beds need winter protection: after 2 or 3 frosts have hardened the plants, cover them with 4 to 6 inches of weed-free straw. Illinois applies straw after several fall frosts but before the temperature drops below 20°F, usually mid-November to mid-December in Illinois; Utah State spreads 3 to 6 inches in late November. Rake it off when new growth starts in spring.

Where strawberries go in the garden

Strawberries are a long-term crop in the North, so choose a sunny, well-drained spot you won't need for annual vegetables. See what to plant with strawberries for companions and plants to keep away, what to plant in fall for other crops that go in with Southern fall strawberries, and when to plant spinach for a listed companion that shares the early spring window.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant strawberries?

In cold-winter areas, early spring: dormant bare-root plants as soon as the soil can be worked (Illinois: March or April; Minnesota: April to May). In mild-winter areas of the South, fall: mid-September to late October in Texas (Texas A&M) and September 15 to November 15 in South Carolina (Clemson).

Can you plant strawberries in the fall?

Yes, and in Texas, Florida and much of the Southeast it is the preferred time. Texas A&M says spring is the wrong time in Texas because it gets hot too quickly. In cold-winter areas, extension services plant in spring.

When do you plant strawberries in Florida?

UF/IFAS lists September 15 to October 15 in North Florida, September 25 to October 25 in Central Florida and October 1 to December 1 in South Florida. The first berries come about 90 to 110 days after planting.

Can strawberry plants handle frost after planting?

Dormant bare-root plants can go in before the last spring frost (Utah State), and Clemson says frost generally won't harm new plants. The flowers are the weak point: cover blooming plants on frosty nights (Utah State, UF/IFAS).

Should I remove the first strawberry flowers?

On spring-planted beds, yes. Illinois removes flower stems during the first summer and UMN pinches them for the first few weeks, so the plants put energy into roots and runners. Illinois says later flowers on everbearing and day-neutral plants can be left for a fall crop.

How deep should I plant strawberries?

With the crown at the soil line. UMN says crowns set too shallow dry out and too deep may not leaf out; Clemson sets fall plants with the crown slightly above the soil.