Harvesting sweet strawberries is a goal for many New York State gardeners. A successful harvest depends on correct planting timing, which is complicated by the state’s diverse climate zones, ranging from milder coasts to harsh Upstate winters. Understanding the differences in strawberry types and their needs is the first step toward a rewarding berry patch.
Selecting Strawberry Types for New York Climates
Strawberry plants are categorized into three main types based on their fruiting habit. June-bearing varieties are the traditional choice for New York growers, producing one large, concentrated harvest over a two-to-three-week period, typically in early to mid-summer. This type is favored for its high yield of large berries, which are excellent for preserves or freezing. Everbearing varieties produce two smaller crops per season: one in early summer and a second in the late summer or early fall. Day-neutral varieties, a relative of the everbearing type, are less sensitive to day length and temperature, producing fruit continuously from June until the first heavy frost. While these two types offer a season-long supply, their total yield is lower than June-bearing plants, and their berry size is often smaller. For maximizing the size and volume of a single annual harvest in the Northeast, June-bearing varieties like ‘Jewel’ or ‘Honeoye’ are recommended.
The Spring Planting Window
The optimal time to plant dormant, bare-root strawberry crowns in New York is in early spring, as soon as the soil is workable and the threat of hard frost has passed. This period generally spans from late March to mid-May, depending on the location within the state. Milder zones, such as Long Island, may plant up to a month earlier than colder Upstate regions like the Adirondacks. Planting is best done when the soil is no longer frozen and has dried out sufficiently to crumble easily. The most accurate indicator for planting is a soil temperature that consistently reaches at least 40°F, with 50°F being an ideal target for root development. Planting during this cool, early window allows the plants to establish a deep root system before summer heat arrives. Planting too late can compromise the plants’ ability to produce a strong crop the following year.
Considering Fall Planting for Established Beds
While spring is the preferred time for establishing a new strawberry patch with bare-root crowns, late summer or early fall planting is an option for certain situations. This alternative timing is usually reserved for filling gaps in existing beds or planting potted starts. The planting window falls roughly between mid-August and the end of September, about six weeks before the first expected hard frost. The goal of fall planting is to give the plants enough time to develop a viable root system before entering winter dormancy. This method can result in an earlier yield the following spring compared to spring-planted crowns. However, newly planted fall strawberries require heavy mulching, applied around November when temperatures drop below 20°F, to protect the shallow root crowns from winter heaving and cold injury.
Immediate Care and First Season Expectations
Regardless of the planting season, the first few weeks after setting the crowns focus on establishing the plant’s long-term health. Since the plants have shallow root systems, they must receive about one inch of water per week through rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Applying a layer of mulch, such as straw, immediately after planting conserves soil moisture, suppresses weed growth, and keeps developing berries clean. For spring-planted June-bearing varieties, remove all flowers that appear during the first growing season. This practice, called pinching or de-blossoming, prevents the young plant from expending energy on fruit production. Removing the flowers forces the plant to direct its energy into developing a strong crown and root structure, leading to a larger harvest in the second year.