When to plant strawberries in Colorado Springs, Colorado

April 5 – April 19

Transplant outdoors · typical Colorado Springs year

Climate basis: NOAA station Colorado Springs Muni AP, CO (USW00093037), 7 mi (11 km) from downtown Colorado Springs (ZCTA 80903 centroid), elevation 6181 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant dormant strawberry crowns from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (May 3). One year in ten still freezes after May 15.

Last spring freezeMay 31-in-10 after May 15

First fall freezeOctober 81-in-10 before Sep 26

Frost-free season≈ 158 daysmedian at 32°F

Hard freeze, 28°Apr 24 – Oct 16kills even hardy greens

USDA zone6a-10 to -5°F winter low — not frost timing

The Colorado Springs year

Transplant outdoorsApr 5 – Apr 19

indoors under lights
in the garden
frost-free season
1-in-10 years still freeze to May 15

Strawberries in Colorado Springs · freeze context from Colorado Springs Muni AP, CO, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Apr 5 – Apr 19

NC State: plant 1-year-old dormant plants about three or four weeks before the average last frost. Utah State: dormant bare-root plants need not wait for frost danger to pass. Span extended to 14 days. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 3). N.C. Cooperative Extension (NC State Extension, Macon County) · Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Garden strawberries are planted as crowns/plants, not seed.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: June-bearing beds fruit the year AFTER planting (blossoms are usually removed the first season).

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:

Crop rule sources (2)

N.C. Cooperative Extension (NC State Extension, Macon County): Starting Your Strawberry Patch (accessed 2026-07-24)
"Plant 1-year old dormant plants about three or four weeks (mid-April) before the average date of the last frost."
Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Strawberries in Your Garden (accessed 2026-07-24)
"Bare root dormant plants are transplanted in early spring. Since the plants are dormant, there is no need to wait until after the risk of spring frost has passed."

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