Arizona · zones 5b–10a
When to plant strawberries in Arizona.
Sow or transplant between Jan 22 to Feb 26 in a typical year, keyed to Arizona's median last frost around Feb 5. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 16 to Oct 16. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Strawberries dates for a typical Arizona season.
1 · Start indoors
Dec 11 to Jan 15
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Jan 22 to Feb 26
Keyed to the ~Feb 5 last frost. Sow 0" deep, 12" apart.
Fall round
Sep 16 to Oct 16
Counted back from the ~Nov 15 first frost.
Harvest
~90 days later
~1.5 lb per plant over ~8 weeks.
Arizona spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 10a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Arizona: watch for
The pests that find strawberries here.
With about 283 frost-free days, strawberry, day-neutral spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which spotted wing drosophila can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Soft, quickly-rotting ripe berries with tiny larvae inside.
Organic fix: Pick often, chill fast, hang traps, exclude with fine netting.
White powder on leaves, or fuzzy gray rot on the fruit.
Organic fix: Prune for airflow, water at the base, spray neem.
Your season math: Arizona gives strawberries about 283 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 90 days to a first harvest. It's a one-planting crop, so time that single sowing well.
Planting strawberries in Arizona: questions
When should I plant strawberries in Arizona?+
In a typical Arizona year, sow strawberries or set out transplants between Jan 22 to Feb 26, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 5. There's also a fall window: Sep 16 to Oct 16. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start strawberries seeds indoors in Arizona?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Dec 11 to Jan 15 for a typical Arizona season.
What USDA zone is Arizona?+
Arizona spans zones 5b–10a, mostly zone 9. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many strawberries plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.