Strawberries planting calendar for USDA Zone 8a

Wilmington NC, Columbia SC, Atlanta, Dallas, Norfolk. Average last spring frost March 28, first fall frost November 5 — a 222-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Strawberries is well suited to Zone 8a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Transplant outdoors
September 5 – September 26
Expected first harvest
March 11 – April 8
Fall planting window
September 17 – October 8
Fall harvest window
March 23 – April 20

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
12″
Row spacing
36″
Seed depth
0.5″
Soil temperature
50–80°F
Frost tolerance
hardy
Days to harvest
180 days

Grower notes for Zone 8a

Southeast growers use plasticulture: fall-plant plugs, harvest spring. Renovation after harvest keeps plantings 3+ years.

Plant near: lettuce, spinach, onions

Keep away from: brassicas

Other berries for Zone 8a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

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