Washington DC · zones 7b–7b
When to plant strawberries in Washington DC.
Sow or transplant between Mar 22 to Apr 26 in a typical year, keyed to Washington DC's median last frost around Apr 5. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 9 to Oct 9. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Strawberries dates for a typical Washington DC season.
1 · Start indoors
Feb 8 to Mar 15
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Mar 22 to Apr 26
Keyed to the ~Apr 5 last frost. Sow 0" deep, 12" apart.
Fall round
Sep 9 to Oct 9
Counted back from the ~Nov 8 first frost.
Harvest
~90 days later
~1.5 lb per plant over ~8 weeks.
Washington DC spans more than one climate: Zone 7 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7b to 7b. 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 Washington DC: watch for
The pests that find strawberries here.
A middle-length season, about 217 frost-free days, means strawberry, day-neutral overlaps spotted wing drosophila for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
Soft, quickly-rotting ripe berries with tiny larvae inside.
Organic fix: Pick often, chill fast, hang traps, exclude with fine netting.
Metallic beetles skeletonizing the leaves in summer.
Organic fix: Handpick into soapy water; neem.
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: Washington DC gives strawberries about 217 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 Washington DC: questions
When should I plant strawberries in Washington DC?+
In a typical Washington DC year, sow strawberries or set out transplants between Mar 22 to Apr 26, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 5. There's also a fall window: Sep 9 to Oct 9. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start strawberries seeds indoors in Washington DC?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Feb 8 to Mar 15 for a typical Washington DC season.
What USDA zone is Washington DC?+
Washington DC spans zones 7b–7b, mostly zone 7. 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.