Strawberries generally take about 60 to 90 days (2 to 3 months) to grow from planting to harvest under good conditions. This timeline applies whether you start from seeds or young plants, though seeds require more initial preparation and time
Key Growth Stages and Timeline:
- Seed Germination: Takes 1 to 2 weeks, often requiring a cold stratification period to simulate winter
- Seedling Stage: Lasts about 4 to 6 weeks, during which the plant develops true leaves and a strong root system
- Vegetative Growth: Approximately 4 to 8 weeks, where the plant produces leaves and runners; this stage is crucial for establishing a healthy plant
- Flowering: Begins around 2 to 4 weeks after vegetative growth, signaling the start of fruit development
- Fruit Development: Takes about 3 to 4 weeks from flowering to ripe berries ready for harvest
Varietal Differences:
- June-bearing strawberries typically fruit once in late spring to early summer.
- Everbearing strawberries can produce fruit multiple times (spring, summer, and fall).
- Day-neutral varieties can fruit continuously during the growing season and often produce fruit in the first year, making them preferred for quicker harvests
Additional Notes:
- Growing from bare root or plug plants can shorten the time to fruiting compared to starting from seed, which can take up to 150 days (about 5 months)
- Environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight (6-8 hours daily), soil quality, watering, and fertilization significantly influence growth speed and fruit quality
- After fruiting, strawberry plants produce runners that can root and propagate new plants for subsequent years
In summary, expect about 2 to 3 months from planting a strawberry seedling or bare root plant to harvesting fruit, with full maturation from seed possibly taking up to 4 to 6 months depending on conditions and variety
