Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Plant out 2 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 12 in (30 cm) apart.
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
When to plant
Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.
Optimal Early Spring Planting (Bare-root or Potted Plants)
From a plantRecommended from a plant- Plant out2 weeks before your last spring frost
- First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established
Optimal Indoor Start (Seeds)
From seedRecommended from seed- Start indoors9 weeks before your last spring frost
- Begin hardening offaround your last spring frost
- Plant out1 week after your last spring frost
- First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established
Growing strawberry
- Spacing in the row
- 12 in (30 cm)
- Between rows
- 36 in (91 cm)
- Planting depth
- Crown at the soil line, roots fully buried; potted plants at their pot depth. Seed: surface-sow, pressed in.
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Soil
- Well-drained loam, rich in organic matter. pH balanced (5.5-6.8).
- Germination
- 7-21 days at 65-75°F
- Harvest season
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Years to first crop
- 1
- Mature height
- 6-12 inches
- Hardy to
- USDA zone 4
- Life cycle
- Perennial
Sow shallowly, requiring light for germination; keep consistently moist.
Watering. Consistent moisture is critical, especially during flowering and fruit development. Utilize drip irrigation or soaker hoses to minimize foliar disease.
Neighbours
The companion chart →
Borage
Chive
Lettuce
Onion
Radish
Spinach
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kale
Kohlrabi
Tomato
Pepper
Eggplant
PotatoFeeding
- Seedlings
- Apply a half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer after true leaves emerge.
- Growing
- For June-bearers, apply balanced granular fertilizer after harvest renovation. For everbearing/day-neutrals, apply a balanced granular fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during active growth and fruiting.
- Flowering and fruiting
- During flowering and fruiting, prioritize low-nitrogen, high-potassium formulations.
- How often
- Once a year, in early spring, for June-bearers. Everbearing and day-neutral types: every 4 weeks during the growing season.
- Note
- Excessive nitrogen promotes lush foliage at the expense of fruit production. Maintain soil organic matter for sustained nutrient release.
Your strawberry, planned to the day.
Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.