Strawberry is a perennial grown for its fruit, ready to harvest about one year after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the fruit is the prize.
Zones
3-8
pH Range
4.5-8.2
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~1 yr
Score Strawberry on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether strawberry actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score strawberry against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
See Strawberry
What Strawberry is
Strawberry grows as a perennial and reaches around 10 inches at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Strawberry
Strawberry grows in USDA zones 3 through 8 and is ready to harvest about one year after planting. Strawberry does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground. It needs around 800 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days, and about 300 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
42.8°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~1 year
Strawberry; perennial June-bearer; transplant in fall, harvest next June.
Cornell; UMass-Veg
GDD Required
800+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
0.8 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
300+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
180+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant strawberry in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Strawberry prefers pH 4.5 to 8.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Strawberry is ready about one year after planting (Cornell; UMass-Veg). Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — strawberry isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Strawberry offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Strawberry thrives
Strawberry is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–8·Where Strawberry growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Strawberry can grow in these states:
See if Strawberry will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether strawberry actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Strawberry in my zone?
Strawberry grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Strawberry take to grow?
Strawberry is ready to harvest about one year after planting (Cornell; UMass-Veg). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Strawberry?
Most growers plant strawberry after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 180-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Strawberry need?
Strawberry needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Strawberry need?
Strawberry prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Strawberry attract pollinators?
Yes — strawberry's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Strawberry safe for pets?
Strawberry is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.