How to Grow Strawberries in Cold Weather

Grow strawberries suited for your region. For example, grow hardy types in colder areas that are prone to late spring freezes. Hardy types include Winona or Mesabi varieties.

Apply a 3 to 4-inch layer of wood chip or straw mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and keep weed growth down during the summer. Mound the mulch over the plants in the winter to protect them, moving it back in the spring when new growth emerges. Cover the plants with mulch if a late spring frost threatens.

Cover the strawberry plants with two layers of floating row cover. Two layers consisting of 1 oz. per yard of row cover are more effective at protecting plants from frost damage than one layer of 2 oz. per yard of row cover, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Floating row covers are landscaping fabrics that provide insulation but allow water and sunlight to permeate.

Run an overhead sprinkler on the strawberries. The freezing and cooling cycle associated with this practice builds heat that protects strawberries from frost damage. This strategy is frequently employed by commercial growers and works best during radiation freezes or cold weather on a cloudless, windless day. Use overhead sprinklers in conjunction with floating row covers for added protection.