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When to Plant Alpine Strawberries in Cache County, UT

Alpine strawberries are small, intensely flavored wild-type strawberries that fruit continuously from spring to frost. They do not produce runners and make excellent edging plants.

Cache County, Utah is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 11 and the first fall frost is September 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 83 days.

At an elevation of 6,265 feet, Cache County receives approximately 15.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Alpine Strawberries to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Alpine Strawberries successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Cache County, UT (Zone 5b) Very short season
83 days
Last Spring Frost June 11
83 growing days
First Fall Frost September 2

Cache County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Sep 4 – Nov 20
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jul 2 🍅 Harvest: Oct 1 – Dec 17
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jul 15 🍅 Harvest: Oct 14 – Dec 30

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Cache County

How your county's soil matches Alpine Strawberries's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“8.4) is more alkaline than Alpine Strawberries prefers (5.5โ€“6.8). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Cache County is excellent for Alpine Strawberries โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Alpine Strawberries.

How to Plant Alpine Strawberries

12"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 191 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Alpine Strawberries needs ~1,755 GDD — county provides 1,079 GDD May not mature

Alpine Strawberries Planting Timeline โ€” Cache County, UT

Alpine Strawberries Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors July 2 Jul 2 โ€“ Jul 16
Harvest October 1 Oct 1 โ€“ Dec 17

ยท 12" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Transplant Outdoors
August โ€”
September โ€”
October Harvest
November Harvest
December Harvest

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“180 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“6.8 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

83 days in Cache County

Growing Tips for Alpine Strawberries in Cache County

Direct sow Alpine Strawberries outdoors after June 11 in Cache County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 83.0-day growing season in Cache County is tight for Alpine Strawberries (90.0-180.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Cache County receives only 16" of rain annually. Alpine Strawberries needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting. Unlike regular strawberries, alpines do not spread by runners. Harvest tiny, intensely aromatic berries frequently. Grow well in partial shade.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Alpine Strawberries in Cache County, UT?

Cache County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of June 11. Plan your Alpine Strawberries planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cache County, UT?

Cache County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 11 and first fall frost is September 2.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Cache County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Cache County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.