When to Plant Strawberries in Zone 3

Strawberry timing in zone 3

Most of zone 3 sees its last spring frost between May 21 and May 29, with a typical date of May 23. Strawberry plants are hardy, but their flowers are damaged by frost, so cover blooming plants on cold nights. The tool above uses the weather station closest to your ZIP code.

Why strawberries are planted early

Strawberries are hardy perennials that root best in cool weather. Planting as soon as the soil can be worked in spring gives them time to establish before summer heat. In mild-winter areas, fall planting works even better: the plants root over winter and fruit early the next spring.

Best strawberry varieties for zone 3

Strawberries come in three types, and all can grow in zone 3:

• June-bearing: one large crop over 2–3 weeks in early summer, best for jam and freezing. Try Honeoye or Allstar.
• Everbearing: two or three smaller crops in early summer, midsummer and fall. Try Ozark Beauty, Quinault or Eversweet.
• Day-neutral: fruit on and off all season. Try Albion, Seascape or Tristar.

How to plant strawberries

1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
2. Space plants about 18 inches apart, in rows 3–4 feet apart.
3. Set the crown at soil level. Spread the roots of bare-root plants without bending them, and plant potted plants at the same depth as in the pot.
4. Water well after planting and keep the soil moist while plants establish.
5. Remove runners from June-bearing plants to focus their energy on fruit.

Zone 3 strawberry tips

• Plant at the right depth. Set the crown exactly at soil level: buried crowns rot, and exposed roots dry out.
• Mulch for winter. After the ground freezes, cover the plants with a thick layer of straw, and pull it back in early spring when new growth appears.
• Protect the blossoms. Late frosts damage flowers even though the plants survive. Cover them with a row cover on frosty nights.
• Renew the bed. Plants stay productive for three to four years. Start a new bed from runners after that, ideally in a new spot.

Harvesting strawberries

Strawberries ripen about 30 days after the flowers are pollinated, though it can take 20–60 days depending on the weather. During harvest, check the plants every one or two days and pick berries when they are fully red. A well-grown June-bearing plant can give a pound of berries or more.

Strawberry planting dates in nearby zones

• Zone 4April 18 – May 2

See dates for every zone on the strawberries planting guide, or build a full schedule with the planting calendar.