Strawberries are a popular fruit for home gardeners in Pennsylvania. Achieving a successful harvest relies on selecting the proper moment to plant them. Planting at the correct time allows their shallow root systems to establish before facing summer heat or winter dormancy. Proper timing also sets the stage for a robust first harvest, which varies depending on the type of strawberry chosen.
Primary Planting Windows in Pennsylvania
The optimal time to plant strawberries in Pennsylvania is during early spring, as soon as the soil becomes workable. This typically occurs between late March and mid-to-late April. Bare-root plants, which are dormant crowns shipped without soil, are best suited for this spring planting.
Planting during this cool, moist period allows roots to develop while temperatures remain moderate. Waiting past early June can subject young plants to intense summer heat and drought stress before they establish an adequate root system. It is safer to wait until the risk of a hard frost, which can damage tender new growth, is minimal before planting.
A second, less common planting window exists in late summer, generally from mid-August to early September. This timing is often used for potted plug plants and allows the plant to anchor itself before the first severe frost. However, the spring window is preferred for common June-bearing varieties, as it maximizes the plant’s energy reserves for the following year’s crop.
Choosing the Right Strawberry Variety
The choice of strawberry variety dictates the planting strategy and first-year expectations. Pennsylvania growers typically select between June-bearing and day-neutral types. June-bearing varieties are the most common, producing one large flush of fruit over a two to three-week period in late spring or early summer.
These varieties require over 14 hours of daylight to initiate flower bud formation for the subsequent year’s harvest. When planting June-bearing strawberries in the spring, the goal is to establish a strong plant base. The first major yield will not occur until the second year.
Day-neutral strawberries, sometimes called everbearing, produce smaller, continuous yields throughout the growing season, peaking in June, mid-summer, and late fall. This type offers more flexibility in planting time and can produce a small harvest in the first year if planted early in the spring. Growers should consider whether they prefer one large crop for processing or smaller, continuous yields for fresh eating.
Essential Planting and Site Preparation Steps
Before planting, proper site preparation is necessary for strawberries to thrive. They prefer a well-drained site with full sun exposure and a slightly acidic soil pH. The optimal pH range is between 5.8 and 6.2, though 5.3 to 6.5 is acceptable.
The planting area should be loosened to a depth of at least eight inches. Organic matter, such as aged manure or compost, should be incorporated to improve drainage and nutrient content. If soil testing indicates the pH is outside the recommended range, amendments like lime or sulfur should be applied well in advance, ideally the season before.
When setting the bare-root plant, depth is a specific detail. The crown, the compressed stem where the roots and leaves meet, must be positioned precisely at the soil line. Planting the crown too high exposes the roots to drying, while planting it too deep buries the growing point, which can cause the plant to rot.
After fanning out the roots and firming the soil, immediate and thorough watering is necessary to settle the soil. Applying a layer of clean straw mulch helps conserve moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps the soil temperature cooler, benefiting day-neutral varieties. For June-bearing types, all flowers should be manually removed in the first year to redirect energy toward root and runner development, ensuring a heavier yield the following season.