How to Grow Strawberry
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Plant nursery stock — skip years of growing from seed.
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🛠️ Supplies You'll Need
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🌿 Plant Overview
☀️ Growing Requirements
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Sun
Full Sun (6-8 hours)
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Water
Regular (1-2 inches/week)
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Spacing
18" apart
📏
Height
6-12"
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Germination
7-14 days
Ready to Plant Strawberry?
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Common Strawberry Varieties
Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.
Albion
Day-neutral everbearing variety with large, very sweet berries; great for long seasons.
Chandler
June-bearing variety producing extremely large, firm berries with classic strawberry flavor.
Seascape
High-yielding day-neutral with excellent flavor; performs well in both spring and fall.
Alpine Mignonette
Small, intensely sweet woodland strawberry that thrives in partial shade.
Ozark Beauty
Cold-hardy everbearing variety with very sweet, firm fruit; reliable in northern gardens.
Days-to-maturity figures are approximate and vary by climate and growing conditions.
Common Strawberry Problems
What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.
Pests
Chew holes in ripe berries overnight; most damaging during wet seasons.
Mulch with straw to keep berries off soil; use beer traps; apply iron phosphate bait.
Pick ripe berries the morning before you can harvest.
Cover plants with bird netting held off the plants on hoops before berries ripen.
Adults notch leaf edges; larvae feed on roots causing stunted, wilting plants.
Apply beneficial nematodes to the soil in spring and fall.
Sucks developing fruit, causing deformed "catfaced" strawberries.
Use row covers; weed perimeter to remove overwintering habitat; apply spinosad.
Diseases
The most common strawberry disease; turns ripe and ripening fruit to gray, fuzzy mush in wet weather.
Pick ripe berries immediately; remove mulch for airflow; avoid overcrowding.
Roots turn red inside and die; plants collapse in spring; worse in wet, cold soils.
Plant resistant varieties; improve drainage; avoid planting in low spots.
White powdery coating on leaf undersides; curled, purple-tinged leaves; common in dry summers.
Improve airflow; apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate; choose resistant varieties.
Common Mistakes
Uncontrolled runners form a dense mat that reduces airflow and berry size.
Remove all runners the first year to let the mother plant establish; allow limited runners after that.
Crowns buried below the soil surface rot; too-shallow plants dry out.
Plant so the crown (where leaves meet roots) sits exactly at soil level.
Old, dense foliage harbors disease and pests; renovation resets the planting.
After final harvest, mow foliage to 3–4 inches, thin to 4–6 plants per foot, fertilize, and water in.
🌾 Seed Saving Guide
🟢 EasyWhen to Harvest Seed
Let berries fully ripen and begin to dry on the plant, or freeze ripe berries and thaw to extract seeds.
Processing
Blend ripe berries with water, strain out pulp, spread seeds on a paper towel and dry for 1 week.
Seed Viability
Up to 2 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.
Pro Tip
Seeds do not grow true for hybrid cultivars. June-bearers are often OP; everbearers are commonly hybrid — check your variety.
Seed Storage Supplies
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Raised Bed Planting Guides
A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Strawberry. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →
Strawberry Planting Calendar by Zone
Strawberry Planting Calendar by State
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Strawberry? +
Sow Strawberry seeds directly in the garden 4 weeks before your last frost date. Use the search on this page to find exact dates for your location.
How long does Strawberry take to grow? +
Strawberry typically matures in about 90 days from planting. Exact timing varies by variety, soil conditions, and local climate.
Should I start Strawberry indoors or direct sow? +
Strawberry does best when direct sown outdoors. Plant seeds directly in the garden at the appropriate time based on your local frost dates.
How much sun does Strawberry need? +
Strawberry requires full sun (6-8 hours) to thrive.
How far apart should I plant Strawberry? +
Space Strawberry plants 18 inches apart to allow adequate airflow and root development.
How much water does Strawberry need? +
Strawberry has regular (1-2 inches/week) water needs. Consistent moisture is important especially during germination and early growth.
Can you save seeds from Strawberry? +
Yes — seed saving difficulty for Strawberry is rated easy. Let berries fully ripen and begin to dry on the plant, or freeze ripe berries and thaw to extract seeds. Blend ripe berries with water, strain out pulp, spread seeds on a paper towel and dry for 1 week.
How long do Strawberry seeds last in storage? +
Properly dried and stored Strawberry seeds remain viable for up to 2 years. Store in a cool, dark, dry location in an airtight container with a silica gel packet for best results.
Are Strawberry seeds open-pollinated? +
Yes — Strawberry is open-pollinated, meaning seeds saved from your harvest will grow plants true to the parent variety. This makes it an excellent candidate for building a self-sustaining garden.
About Strawberry
Plant in spring for harvest next year (June-bearing) or same year (day-neutral). Mulch heavily.
Expect your Strawberry to be ready for harvest in approximately 90 days from planting.
Use the search above or browse by zone or state to find the perfect planting dates for your location.