Strawberry Plants. Organic Fronteras.

Fall Planting Instructions for Bare-Root Strawberries

Outdoor Planting in Soil

The 6–8-week recommendation applies to planting outdoors in soil, including garden beds and raised beds: aim to plant 6–8 weeks before your area's first hard frost so roots can establish. Fall planting is best suited to mild-winter areas, generally USDA Zones 7 and warmer. Choose a variety suited to your climate; in colder areas, consult local Cooperative Extension guidance on fall planting and winter protection.

1. Care for plants on arrival. Plant promptly. If planting must wait, keep plants cool and roots damp. Protect exposed roots from drying sun and wind.
2. Prepare a sunny, well-drained bed. Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, remove weeds, and use raised beds where drainage is poor. Base soil preparation on a soil test.
3. Get spacing and planting depth right. For a matted-row garden, set plants 18–24 inches apart, with 3–4 feet between rows. Make each hole deep enough for the roots to extend downward without folding. Position the middle of the crown—the thick junction between roots and leaves—at soil level, with roots covered and the growing tip exposed. Firm soil gently around the roots.
4. Water thoroughly and monitor moisture. Water immediately after planting. During establishment, keep the root zone evenly moist, never waterlogged. About 1 inch of rain or irrigation weekly is a starting point; adjust to soil moisture and weather. Drip irrigation or a soaker hose helps keep foliage dry.
5. Encourage roots through autumn. Remove flowers and runners that appear during fall establishment. Skip fertilizer at fall planting to avoid encouraging tender growth before winter. Keep the bed weed-free.
6. Protect dormant plants. Where winters bring freezing weather, wait until repeated hard frosts have put plants into dormancy, then loosely cover them with 3–6 inches of clean, weed-free straw. Avoid matted leaves. Keep crowns uncovered while plants are still actively growing.
7. Uncover as spring growth resumes. Move winter straw off the crowns and into the spaces between plants. Keep some available to cover plants again if frost threatens emerging blossoms.

Planting in a Hoophouse (Unheated High Tunnel)

• Allow time for rooting. A hoophouse extends the season but can still freeze at night. Plant while soil is warm enough for root growth; local climate and added protection determine the planting window for bare-root plants.
• Prepare beds and irrigate. Follow the crown depth and garden spacing above. Raised beds improve drainage. Use drip irrigation, check soil moisture regularly, and water less as growth slows; covered beds receive no rainfall.
• Manage temperature. Monitor conditions at plant level, ventilate on sunny days, and use horticultural row cover inside the tunnel during cold spells. Adjust covers in warm weather and allow pollinator access during bloom when conditions permit.

Planting in a Greenhouse

• Match timing to heat and light. Follow hoophouse guidance for an unheated greenhouse. Reliable heating and adequate light can support planting beyond the outdoor frost-based window; keeping plants barely frost-free is insufficient for vigorous growth.
• Choose beds or containers. Use well-drained beds or containers with drainage holes and potting mix. Keep crowns at the depth described above. For active growth, aim near 75°F by day and 55°F at night. Ventilate and circulate air to prevent overheating and persistent dampness.
• Support active growth. Supplement weak winter sunlight with grow lights. Keep roots evenly moist with good drainage. Once plants establish, feed container plants with a balanced fertilizer suitable for edible crops, following the label and accounting for nutrients already in the mix. Base soil-bed fertility on a soil test.
• Help flowers set fruit. Hand-pollinate if bees cannot reach blooms, using the method below. Keep actively growing plants uncovered by winter straw.

Planting Indoors in Containers

• Pot carefully. Use fresh potting mix and a container at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes; allow about 8 inches between plants. Cover roots and leave the crown's growing tip exposed.
• Provide enough light. Choose your sunniest window and supplement with a grow light suited to fruiting plants. Follow its recommended height and operating schedule. Use the greenhouse temperature targets where practical and keep plants away from hot vents and cold drafts.
• Check moisture frequently. Water when the mix's surface starts drying, before roots dry out. Empty saucers after watering. Follow the greenhouse feeding guidance during active growth and remove runners.
• Hand-pollinate blooms. Use a clean, soft artist's brush to move pollen from the yellow anthers onto the central cluster of stigmas. Gently cover the entire center of each open flower; repeat while flowers remain receptive.

Fruiting expectations: This June-bearing (short-day) variety normally produces a seasonal crop. Flowering responds to day length and temperature, so indoor warmth alone will not create continuous harvests. Plan protected growing around its seasonal growth and flowering cycle.