When Is the Best Time to Plant Strawberries?

The timing of strawberry planting has a significant effect on how quickly plants become productive and how well they crop in their first and second seasons. Unlike many vegetables where planting in spring means harvest in the same summer, strawberries are a perennial and their timing works differently — planting in late summer for a harvest the following summer, or accepting a reduced first-year crop if planting in spring. Choosing the right planting window for your situation sets up the best possible start for the bed.

Late summer — the ideal planting window

Planting bare-root runners or pot-grown strawberry plants in August or September gives the plants an entire autumn to establish strong roots and crowns before winter dormancy. The following spring, these well-established plants flower earlier and more prolifically than spring-planted ones and produce a full first-season crop in their first summer after planting. Late summer soil is warm and root growth is rapid. Ensure plants are in the ground by mid-September to guarantee adequate establishment before growth slows.

Spring planting — possible but limited

Pot-grown strawberry plants (available from garden centres from March) can be planted in spring. However, spring-planted strawberries in their first season tend to produce a modest crop as the plant is still establishing its root system during the flowering period. To improve first-season performance of spring-planted plants, remove the first flush of flowers to redirect energy into root development. The plants will then produce a better late-summer or everbearing crop. By the second season, spring-planted and autumn-planted beds perform similarly.

Bare-root runners versus pot-grown

Bare-root runners (available by mail order in late summer and autumn) are the most economical way to establish a new bed or expand an existing one. They have no compost around the roots and must be planted promptly — do not allow them to dry out before planting. Pot-grown plants can be planted at almost any point from spring to early autumn and establish readily in good conditions. Both types will perform equally well once established, provided they are certified virus-free.