When to plant strawberries in zone 5b
In zone 5b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 1, plant out March 20 to April 3.
The zone 5b schedule for strawberries
- Plant out
- March 20 to April 3
- First harvest, roughly
- June 18 to July 22
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,546 ZIP codes in zone 5b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for strawberries.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 5b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 21 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 18 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 30 to October 19. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for strawberries
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant strawberries where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Strawberries in zone 5b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Madison, WI | May 1 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Des Moines, IA | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Aurora, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Fort Collins, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Naperville, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Rockford, IL | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Elgin, IL | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Greeley, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Green Bay, WI | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Davenport, IA | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Longmont, CO | May 6 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | — |
How to grow strawberriesAll zonesStrawberries in zone 5aStrawberries in zone 6aAbout zone 5b
Sources
- Growing Strawberries in a Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Planting Strawberries in the Home Garden · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Strawberries (MF598) · Kansas State University Research and Extension
- Strawberries - Gardening Solutions · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- If Summer's End Has You In A Jam, Plant Strawberries Now · Texas A&M AgriLife
- Strawberries: Time to Plant · UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California ANR
- Fragaria x ananassa (Plant Toolbox) · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox