When To Plant Strawberries In Ohio

If you’re planning a strawberry patch in the Buckeye State, knowing when to plant strawberries in Ohio is the most important step for success. Getting the timing right ensures your plants establish strong roots and gives you the best shot at a plentiful harvest. This guide will walk you through the optimal windows for different strawberry types and provide clear, actionable steps to get your plants off to a great start.

Ohio’s climate, with its distinct seasons, offers two primary planting windows: spring and late summer to early fall. The best choice for you depends on the type of strawberry plant you choose and your gardening goals. Understanding these options is key to a healthy bed.

Spring Planting (March to Early May)

This is the most common time for Ohio gardeners to plant strawberries. You aim to get your plants in the ground as soon as the soil is workable in early spring. This means the ground has thawed and is no longer soggy from melted snow.

Target Window: Late March through early May. Southern Ohio can often start earlier, while northern Ohio may need to wait until late April.
Best For: Bare-root strawberry plants, which are widely available at garden centers in spring. It’s also fine for potted plants.
The Trade-off: Spring-planted strawberries focus their first year on growing leaves and roots. You should remove any flowers that appear in the first season. This encourages stronger plants for a much better harvest the following year.

Fall Planting (Late August to Early October)

Fall planting is a fantastic, often overlooked strategy in Ohio. Planting in early fall allows the strawberries to establish their root systems in the warm soil without the pressure of summer heat. They then go dormant over winter and are ready to burst into growth come spring.

Target Window: Aim for about 6-8 weeks before your area’s first expected hard frost. For most of Ohio, this is from late August through early October.
Best For: Potted or plug plants, which establish faster than bare-root in the fall. It’s a great method for June-bearing varieties.
The Benefit: Fall-planted strawberries often produce a modest harvest in their first spring, as they are already settled in. They require careful winter protection, which we’ll cover below.

Understanding Your Strawberry Types

Strawberries fall into three main categories, and this affects your planting and care schedule.

June-Bearing Strawberries

These are the classic strawberries that produce one large, concentrated harvest over about 2-3 weeks in late spring to early summer. They send out many runners. For Ohio, spring or fall planting both work well.

Everbearing Strawberries

Everbearing varieties produce two to three smaller harvests throughout the growing season: one in late spring, one in summer, and sometimes another in early fall. They produce fewer runners. Planting in early spring is ideal for them.

Day-Neutral Strawberries

Similar to everbearing, day-neutral strawberries produce fruit continuously from late spring until the first hard frost, as long as temperatures stay below 85°F. They also produce few runners. Plant these in early spring for the longest harvest period.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Once you’ve chosen your time, follow these steps for planting success.

Choose the Right Site: Strawberries need full sun—at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil must be well-draining. If you have heavy clay soil, you’ll need to amend it with compost or use raised beds.
Prepare the Soil: Work the soil to a depth of about 12 inches. Mix in 2-4 inches of compost or well-rotted manure. A soil test from your local OSU Extension office is a great idea to check pH; strawberries prefer a slightly acidic soil between 5.5 and 6.8.
Plant Correctly: For bare-root plants, soak the roots in water for an hour before planting. Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots out. The crown (where the roots meet the stems) must be level with the soil surface. Planting too deep can rot the crown; planting too shallow can dry out the roots. For potted plants, plant at the same depth they were in the container.
Spacing is Key: Space plants about 18 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. This gives them room for runners and ensures good air circulation, which prevents disease.
Water and Mulch: Water the plants deeply immediately after planting. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of straw or pine needle mulch around the plants. This conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps the developing fruit clean.

Essential Care After Planting

Your work isn’t done once the plants are in the ground. Consistent care, especially in the first year, is crucial.

Watering

Strawberries need consistent moisture, about 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Water at the base of the plants to avoid wetting the leaves, which can lead to fungal diseases. Drip irrigation or a soaker hose is perfect for this.

Fertilizing

In the first year, fertilize spring-planted strawberries about 6 weeks after planting. Use a balanced fertilizer. For established beds, fertilize in early spring and again after the main harvest for June-bearing types. Always follow the instructions on the fertilizer label to avoid over-feeding.

Weeding

Keep the bed meticulously weeded. Strawberries don’t compete well with weeds for water and nutrients. Hand-pull weeds carefully to avoid disturbing the shallow strawberry roots.

Renovating June-Bearing Beds

After your June-bearing plants finish their harvest, it’s time to renovate. Mow or shear the foliage down to about 1 inch above the crowns. Thin the plants, keeping the healthiest ones about 6 inches apart. Remove old mulch, fertilize, and apply fresh mulch. This keeps the bed productive for 3-5 years.

Protecting Your Ohio Strawberries in Winter

Winter protection is non-negotiable in Ohio, especially for fall-planted strawberries and established beds. The goal is to keep the plants consistently cold and dormant, not to keep them warm.

When to Apply: Apply mulch after the plants have gone dormant and the soil has frozen, usually in late November or December. This is typically after several hard frosts.
What to Use: Straw is the traditional and excellent choice. You can also use pine needles or shredded leaves.
How Much: Apply a loose, 4-6 inch layer over the entire bed. Don’t worry about smothering the plants; the loose mulch will settle.
When to Remove: In early spring, as new growth begins (often mid to late March), gently rake the mulch off the plants and into the aisles. Keep it nearby to protect against a late frost.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with perfect timing, you might face a few challenges.

Birds: They love ripe strawberries. Use bird netting over the bed as fruit starts to ripen, ensuring it’s secured at the edges.
Slugs and Snails: These pests love the moist environment under mulch. Use organic slug baits or traps to manage them.
Gray Mold (Botrytis): This fuzzy gray mold ruins fruit. Prevent it by ensuring good spacing for air flow, keeping fruit off the soil with mulch, and removing any rotten berries immediately.

FAQ: Planting Strawberries in Ohio

What month is best to plant strawberries in Ohio?

The two best windows are early spring (late March to early May) and early fall (late August to early October). Fall planting can lead to an earlier first harvest.

Can I plant strawberries in Ohio in the fall?

Absolutely. Fall planting is highly effective. Just be sure to provide a thick layer of winter mulch after the ground freezes to protect the crowns.

How early can you plant strawberries in spring in Ohio?

You can plant as soon as the soil is workable—not frozen or overly wet. This is often in late March for southern regions and April for northern Ohio.

Do strawberries come back every year in Ohio?

Yes, strawberries are perennials. With proper care, including winter protection and annual renovation for June-bearing types, a strawberry bed can remain productive for several years.

Should I remove flowers the first year?

For spring-planted June-bearing and everbearing types, yes. Pinch off the flowers in the first season to direct energy to root and leaf growth. For day-neutral, you can allow flowers after mid-summer for a fall harvest. Fall-planted strawberries can usually keep their spring blossoms.

By following this timing and care guide, you’ll give your Ohio strawberry plants the strongest possible start. The key is matching the planting time to your strawberry type and providing consistent care, especially through that first critical year. With a little patience, you’ll be rewarded with sweet, homegrown berries for seasons to come.