Strawberries: A Fun Winter Crop for Florida!
Updated: Aug 27
When do we plant strawberries in Florida?
In Florida, we grow strawberries seasonally: October - May/June.
We grow 'bare roots,' which are 2-3-year-old plants, usually grown in the northwest.
It is crucial to buy FRESH bare-root strawberries that were recently dug. Old bare roots won't produce well!
I've had terrible luck buying bare roots from Amazon, Sam's Club, and Home Depot. Don't do it!
Buy from reputable sellers who understand the importance of shipping fresh seedlings.
When you get your bare roots, PLANT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Gather your supplies ahead of time and be ready for planting!
Where do I find strawberry plants suitable for Florida?
Strawberries are seasonal. Ideally, it's best to pre-order them in August if possible. Call your local nursery to see if they will be getting in bare root strawberry plants.
Here are some sites to check. Availability will vary from year to year:
True Garden (Tower Garden ready plants - use code TRUE10 to save 10%)
South Seminole Farm & Nursery (local pick-up in Casselberry, FL
Scenic Hill Farm in Oregon sells Albion strawberries, which is a great variety for late spring production. Suitable for all of FL.
Earthbox Garden Center in Ellenton, FL (near Bradenton)
Whitwam Organics in Tampa, FL (store pick- up OR pre-order/ship)
Nick's Edibles (takes pre-orders in Sept and ships)
Brownlee Garden Center in Plant City
Hoss Tools in Georgia (likely the variety will be suitable for North Florida planting)
Strawberry Passion/Passion Organics Farms, LLC in Thonotosassa, FL. Call 813-735-6706 for availability.
Varieties vary from year to year, also!
Strawberry Tips & Tricks
Strawberries are susceptible to fungal diseases that will wipe a crop out fast!
Neem provides a barrier to fungus and can prevent it from settling on the plant. Spray with Neem & soap weekly.
Milk is a powerful fungicide and effective on powdery mildew. Spray with diluted milk 1-2 times a week. The recipe is HERE.
You can use Captan fungicide on strawberries. Captan kills many fungi (but not gray mold). Captan is NOT organic. If you use it, I suggest using it about 4 weeks after planting and remove all flowers before spraying.
Keep your plants picked! Ripe fruit attracts gray rot!
Plant in full sun! Sun discourages fungal growth!
Hand pollinate if growing indoors or if the fruit is small or sparse!
For more pesticide tips, visit this blog post!
Watch these videos to see how to plant your strawberries in your Tower Garden!
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me by clicking this link.
Happy Growing!
~Leah Brooks
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