Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Overview
Florida's strawberry season is the reverse of the rest of the country. While most of the U.S. harvests strawberries in spring and summer, Florida plants in October and harvests from December through March. This winter growing window takes advantage of Florida's mild winters and avoids the summer diseases and pests that make year-round strawberry production nearly impossible in the state.
Florida is the winter strawberry capital of the United States, with the Plant City area in Hillsborough County producing the bulk of the nation's winter strawberry supply. Home gardeners can grow excellent strawberries using the same short-day varieties and timing that commercial farms use. The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City each March celebrates the end of the season.
Growing in Florida
Florida's strawberry industry is concentrated in the Plant City area of Hillsborough County, which produces about 15% of the U.S. strawberry crop — virtually all of the winter supply. The UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center is one of the most important in the world, developing varieties specifically for Florida's unique winter production window. Home gardeners should follow the commercial timing: plant bare-root transplants in mid-October for Central Florida, and expect harvest from December through March. After March, rising temperatures and disease pressure end the season.
Planting Calendar
| Zone | JanJ | FebF | MarM | AprA | MayM | JunJ | JulJ | AugA | SepS | OctO | NovN | DecD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North FL | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ✓ | ✓ | · |
| Central FL | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ✓ | ✓ | · |
| South FL | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ✓ | ✓ |
Growing Guide
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Florida Varieties
Flavor Profile
Nutrition Highlights
Culinary Uses
Fresh eating at peak ripeness is unbeatable. Sliced over shortcake with whipped cream. Blended into smoothies and milkshakes. Made into jams, preserves, and syrups. Dipped in chocolate for dessert. Tossed into spinach salads with balsamic vinaigrette. Macerated with sugar and served over ice cream. Florida strawberry season (December–March) provides fresh berries when the rest of the country relies on California imports.
Storage Tips
Store unwashed strawberries in a single layer on a paper towel-lined container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Wash only immediately before eating. For freezing, hull and freeze in a single layer on a sheet pan, then transfer to bags. Frozen berries keep 8–12 months and are excellent for smoothies, baking, and preserves.
Plant City, Florida holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest strawberry shortcake, made during the annual Florida Strawberry Festival. The UF/IFAS breeding program has released over a dozen strawberry varieties specifically bred for Florida conditions since the 1990s, fundamentally shaping the state's strawberry industry.