Growing Strawberries in Georgia

Strawberries are one of Georgia's signature spring experiences, from backyard beds to U-pick farms. But Georgia is not a one-system strawberry state: University of Georgia guidance uses a perennial matted-row approach primarily in North Georgia and an annual fall-planted hill system in Middle and South Georgia because disease pressure and climate change the way strawberries perform.

Why Strawberries Matter in Georgia

Georgia strawberries connect home gardening with the state's spring farm season. The Georgia Department of Agriculture's 2026 Georgia Grown Spring U-Pick Agritourism Map features strawberries among the fresh crops visitors can pick directly from participating farms across the state.

For gardeners, strawberries are especially interesting because where you live in Georgia changes how you should grow them. UGA recommends the matted-row system primarily for North Georgia, while the annual hill system works best in Middle and South Georgia and can also be used in North Georgia during normal winters.

North Georgia vs. Middle and South Georgia Strawberries

This is the most important Georgia-specific decision on the page.

• North Georgia — Matted Row: Plants are generally established in spring, runners fill the bed through summer, first-year flowers are removed, and the planting fruits the following year. A healthy bed may produce for several seasons with renovation.
• Middle and South Georgia — Annual Hill: Plants are set in fall and harvested the next spring. UGA prefers this system farther south because anthracnose can destroy matted-row plantings during their first summer.
• Annual hill in North Georgia: UGA notes that the annual system can also work there during normal winters, with Chandler generally more productive than Camarosa in North Georgia.

Best Strawberry Varieties for Georgia

Strawberry variety performance changes with climate, soil and production system, so Georgia gardeners should choose by region rather than simply buying the first variety they see.

• Chandler: Adapted to the annual hill system across South, Middle and North Georgia in UGA guidance.
• Camarosa: Recommended for annual hill production in South and Middle Georgia.
• Sweet Charlie: Adapted to several Georgia regions and usable in either annual hill or matted-row production.
• Earliglow: An early cultivar listed for Middle and North Georgia.
• Allstar: A midseason option listed for Middle and North Georgia.

Buy certified, disease-free plants from a reputable source. Starting with clean plants is particularly important because strawberry diseases and nematodes can accumulate in an established bed.

How to Grow Strawberries in Georgia

• Use full sun: Select a site that receives full sun most or all day.
• Prioritize drainage: Strawberries prefer fertile, well-drained soil that still holds adequate moisture. Avoid chronically wet soil.
• Soil-test first: UGA recommends testing for lime and fertilizer needs and considering a nematode assay before establishing a bed.
• Plant the crown correctly: Do not bury the crown deeply or leave roots exposed. Correct planting depth is essential for establishment.
• Water consistently: UGA guidance calls for roughly 1 to 1½ inches of water per week for established matted-row strawberries when rainfall is insufficient.
• Keep berries clean: Straw or pine straw can reduce soil splash and help keep ripening fruit off bare ground.
• Plan for birds: Secure bird netting around the entire planting before birds discover the crop.

Georgia Companion Gardening with Strawberries

Companion planting is most useful when we focus on practical garden relationships rather than unsupported claims that one plant magically protects another. For Georgia strawberries, think about pollinators, crop rotation, airflow, root competition and seasonal use of space.

• Support pollinators: Flowering herbs and flowers near—but not crowding—the strawberry bed can provide additional forage for bees and other pollinating insects. UGA Extension notes that pollinators contribute to strawberry production.
• Lettuce can share the cool season: UGA Master Gardener educational material lists strawberry as a companion for lettuce. Their cool-season timing can make them useful neighbors where spacing and airflow remain adequate.
• Keep tomatoes, peppers and potatoes out of the rotation: UGA specifically advises avoiding strawberry beds where these crops have grown during the previous five years because they and strawberries can share susceptibility to Verticillium wilt.
• Do not crowd the bed: A companion plant is not helpful if it blocks sun, reduces airflow or competes heavily for water around shallow strawberry roots.
• Use flowers as habitat, not pesticide substitutes: Diverse flowering plants can support beneficial insects, but pest decisions should still be based on identification and monitoring.

Georgia garden idea: Instead of mixing many plants directly into a strawberry row, create a nearby pollinator edge with appropriately sized flowering herbs or annual flowers. That preserves access, airflow and bird-netting space while adding floral diversity.

When Georgia Strawberries Are Ready to Harvest

Georgia's harvest timing varies with region, weather and production system, but strawberries are fundamentally a spring crop here. Pick berries when they have developed full color and good flavor, and check the bed frequently during peak production.

• Harvest in the cool part of the day when practical.
• Handle ripe berries gently because strawberries bruise easily.
• Remove damaged or rotting fruit so it does not remain in the planting.
• Refrigerate harvested berries promptly if they will not be eaten immediately.