Growing strawberries in California

Choose the production system by district

California’s coastal strawberry districts stagger planting and harvest. The historical schedule below distinguishes the systems; it does not describe every current cultivar or operation.

Treat statewide year-round supply as a sequence of local seasons

The state report describes production in every month through staggered districts. That does not mean one California field bears continuously. Southern and northern districts use different planting and harvest periods.⁵

Annual field cycle

Strawberry is botanically perennial, but California commercial fruit fields are typically managed as annual crops. A small share may be retained for a second harvest year.⁵

Prepare a drained field and raised beds

Check drainage before planting

UC IPM recommends field slope of at least 0.75% where needed to prevent waterlogging and erosion. Standing water favors root and crown diseases; ideally, rainwater should not remain in a strawberry field for more than about six hours.³

Plan beds around the district system

Two-row beds are most common in Watsonville–Salinas; four-row beds are most common in Santa Maria and Southern California. Four-row beds can make salinity management, pest control and harvest more difficult, so compare the system with labor, irrigation and field access before choosing it.³

Review crop and water history

Survey the previous crop and field edges for weeds and pest problems, check soil and irrigation-water salinity, and confirm that the chosen field fits the production schedule. Correct drainage constraints before beds are formed.^3,4

Plant certified transplants at district density

Use clean planting stock

Certified transplants reduce the risk of introducing viruses, foliar nematodes, other pathogens and weed propagules into fruit fields. Confirm cultivar and certification status with the nursery before delivery.²

Keep roots and crowns correctly placed

Protect transplants from drying during planting. UC IPM advises placing roots vertically, avoiding a J-shaped root, and leaving the crown properly exposed after the soil is firmed. Place transplants no farther than 6–7 inches from a drip line.²

Avoid over-crowding

Plant density varies with cultivar, nursery source, planting date, fertility, soil, bed width and location. UC IPM cautions that excessive density can reduce fruit size, slow picking and increase disease pressure; use the local range as context, then match the planting plan to the field.²

Establish moisture without waterlogging

First four weeks

New roots need close soil contact, moisture and protection from salinity. UC IPM calls frequent irrigation critical during the first four weeks and advises keeping bed soil near field capacity while avoiding standing water.²

Use mulch for the production system

Polyethylene mulch can regulate bed temperature, conserve moisture, limit salt accumulation at the surface and reduce fruit contact with soil and irrigation water. Choose mulch type and timing for cultivar, planting and harvest season, and weed-control plan.³

Scout consistently

Use field records and routine checks for pests, diseases, weeds, soil moisture and irrigation-water salinity. UC IPM’s harvest checklist also calls for removing decayed or water-damaged fruit and continuing field monitoring through harvest.⁴

Plan harvest by region and fruit maturity

Harvest window

In the historical district schedule, harvest begins in December in Southern California, October in Oxnard, mid-February in Santa Maria and mid-March in Salinas–Watsonville. These regional windows overlap to support statewide supply through the year; they are not guaranteed dates for a specific farm.^5,6

Harvest health checks

During harvest, keep monitoring for insects, mites, diseases and weeds, and remove decayed or water-damaged fruit. Use field-level harvest and pest records to plan labor, cooling and market delivery for the actual crop.⁴

Read state yields in context

USDA NASS reports a California average of 615 cwt per acre for 2025 across 45,000 harvested acres. That statewide result combines production systems and fields; it is not a yield promise or budget for a new planting.¹

Frequently asked questions

When do commercial farms plant strawberries in California?

It depends on the district. The Central Valley uses summer planting; fall planting is most widely used elsewhere. A historical district schedule lists mid-July to September for Oxnard and mid-October to mid-November for Santa Maria and Salinas–Watsonville.

Can California strawberries be harvested year-round?

Statewide, harvest can occur in every month because southern and northern districts have staggered seasons. An individual field has a much narrower harvest period.

How many strawberry plants go in an acre in California?

UC IPM reports 16,000–20,000 plants per acre for two-row Watsonville–Salinas beds and 22,000–28,000 for four-row Santa Maria and Southern California beds. These are regional ranges, not universal targets.

Are commercial strawberry fields perennial in California?

The plant is perennial, but commercial fruit fields in California are typically managed as annuals. A small portion may be retained for a second harvest year.

What is the average strawberry yield in California?

USDA NASS reported 615 cwt per acre across California in 2025. State averages describe established production overall and do not predict the yield of a new field.