When to plant strawberries in Ellensburg, WA

Plant strawberry plants in Ellensburg Apr 15 – May 27.

Easy Plant young plants

Why these dates

Ellensburg's typical last spring frost is April 28. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Inland Northwest, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 15.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart
Planting depth: Crown at soil level: not buried, roots covered
Frost: Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest: A light crop the first summer; full crops from the second year

Step by step

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant strawberry plants Apr 15 – May 27, 12 to 18 inches apart. Crown at soil level: not buried, roots covered.
Water regularly, mulch with straw, and pinch off runners in the first year so plants put energy into roots.
Harvest: Pick fully red berries every couple of days, in the morning, with the cap attached.

Varieties that do well here

Hood (an Oregon classic)
Shuksan
Seascape (everbearing)
Albion (day-neutral)

Watch out for

Gray mold (botrytis) in wet springs and slugs on ripe berries. Mulch with straw to keep fruit off the soil.

June-bearers give one big crop; everbearers and day-neutrals give smaller harvests through summer. Oregon and Washington breeding programs have produced many of the best varieties for this climate.