When to plant strawberries in Sacramento, California
December 15 – December 29
Transplant outdoors · typical Sacramento yearClimate basis: NOAA station Sacramento 5 Ese, CA (USW00023271), 5 mi (7 km) from downtown Sacramento (ZCTA 95814 centroid), elevation 38 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 (January 12). One year in ten still freezes after February 8.
The Sacramento year
- indoors under lights
- in the garden
- frost-free season
- 1-in-10 years still freeze to Feb 8
Every method, with its sources
Transplant outdoors
Dec 15 – Dec 29NC 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 (Jan 12). N.C. Cooperative Extension (NC State Extension, Macon County) · Utah State University Extension
Start seeds indoors
Not calculatedThe cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.
Direct-sow outdoors
Not calculatedGarden strawberries are planted as crowns/plants, not seed.
Fall planting
Not calculatedNo 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.
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."