California · zones 7a–10b
When to plant strawberries in California.
Sow or transplant between Dec 31 to Feb 4 in a typical year, keyed to California's median last frost around Jan 14. A second, fall sowing fits Oct 15 to Nov 14. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Strawberries dates for a typical California season.
1 · Start indoors
Nov 19 to Dec 24
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Dec 31 to Feb 4
Keyed to the ~Jan 14 last frost. Sow 0" deep, 12" apart.
Fall round
Oct 15 to Nov 14
Counted back from the ~Dec 14 first frost.
Harvest
~90 days later
~1.5 lb per plant over ~8 weeks.
California spans more than one climate: Zone 10 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 10b. 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 California: watch for
The pests that find strawberries here.
With about 334 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: California gives strawberries about 334 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 California: questions
When should I plant strawberries in California?+
In a typical California year, sow strawberries or set out transplants between Dec 31 to Feb 4, keyed to the state's median last frost around Jan 14. There's also a fall window: Oct 15 to Nov 14. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start strawberries seeds indoors in California?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Nov 19 to Dec 24 for a typical California season.
What USDA zone is California?+
California spans zones 7a–10b, mostly zone 10. 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.