I have strawberries in the ground in zone 5b PA, 960 ft elevation and zone 6a NY. They come back every year. Why do you want to keep them in pots? It’s easier just plant them in the ground.

And in southern OR, you can plant them in the ground right now. But you can store them in a cold frame if you wish.

Hello again and a full tummy Thanksgiving to all....

I kept the s.b. in pots the first year as I had heard they do not produce a lot of fruit the first year...and it is better to cut off runners/mother plants. Also better to grow/fertilize for roots only and plant into ground, second year.

So, I have 3 cold frames and will set pots in them with a lot of straw for insulation, top, bottom and sides..... and wait it out until May or June and plop them into their permanent beds.

We shall see...what we shall see. I have lots of gardening experience...but no strawberry experience..... Until now.

I've been growing strawberries for years - in fact, where I live has long history of commercial strawberry production since the turn of the 20th century - and I have never heard of that type of advice. The plants are typically sold bare root in early spring (February and March) and planted in the ground immediately. And they can produce their first year just fine without issue to the longevity of the plant or to root development. While it certainly won't hurt to delay planting and production as you have, it is not at all necessary!!