When to cover new strawberry plants - Ask Extension
Hello, I planted new strawberry plants in September and am wondering when to cover them with straw. My garden is in Alexandria MN, Douglas County. Tem...
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When to cover new strawberry plants #922287
Asked November 21, 2025, 5:00 PM EST
Hello, I planted new strawberry plants in September and am wondering when to cover them with straw. My garden is in Alexandria MN, Douglas County. Temps have been relatively mild and we haven’t had a really hard frost yet. The plants still appear green and alive as of today 11/21/25. I tested the soil temp and it has been between 40-55 at different times in the past two weeks. I don’t want to cover them too early. What do you recommend? Thank you for the help!
Douglas County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
You are in zone 4a,
You are in zone 4a,
- Wait until plants are dormant, after daytime temperatures are consistently below freezing for at least three days, and soil temperatures are below 40∘
- Spread a layer of straw 4–6 inches deep over the entire plant and soil. The straw will settle to about 2–3 inches
- If putting straw on after snow, you can put it right on top of the snow, as the snow provides additional insulation.
- In the spring, remove the straw when soil temperature reaches 40 and you see new green leaves growing. https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-strawberries-home-garden#harvesting-and-protecting-plants-in-winter--988762
