Storing strawberry bare roots properly before planting is crucial for ensuring healthy plants and a good harvest. When buying bare root strawberry plants, they arrive dormant without soil around the roots. This allows growers to plant them while still dormant before the growing season begins. However, the plants need to be cared for properly during the storage period. Here are some key tips on how to store strawberry bare roots before planting.
Keep Roots Moist and Cool
One of the most important things is keeping the strawberry roots moist and cool. The roots need moisture to stay alive, but you don’t want them soaking wet. Place the bare roots in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel. Keep them loosely wrapped so air can still circulate. Store them in the refrigerator, not the freezer. An ideal temperature is around 34-40°F. This cold storage mimics winter dormancy and prevents the plants from sprouting too early before planting. Just make sure the roots don’t freeze.
Use Temporary Containers
You can also store the bare roots in temporary containers or pots. Place them in pots filled with moist sawdust, peat moss, vermiculite, or potting soil. This protects the roots and keeps them moist. Store the pots in a cool place like a refrigerator or unheated garage. Make sure the material doesn’t get too wet and start composting. The roots should not sit directly in water. You want the environment moist but still with air circulation. Use clean containers so the roots don’t pick up any diseases.
Check Moisture Levels
It’s important to continue checking moisture levels during storage. You don’t want the roots to dry out. Look for any condensation inside the plastic bags, which indicates enough moisture. Adding more damp paper towels can help. If storing in pots, check the material to see if it is evenly moist. You may need to water the material if it is drying out. The roots should never be allowed to dry out completely.
Prepare for Planting
Get your garden ready for planting before your bare roots arrive. Remove any existing weeds and improve the soil with compost or fertilizer. Strawberries thrive in well-draining soil amended with organic matter. Raised beds are ideal and prevent soil-borne diseases. Solarize the soil by covering it with plastic to kill pathogens and pests if disease was a problem in the past.
Plant as Soon as Possible
Although you can store bare roots for a few weeks, aim to plant them as soon as possible. The key is planting them while still dormant and before they break dormancy and start growing. Once growth starts, the plants will struggle if the roots are disturbed. Plant them as soon as you can dig in your soil. Avoid planting too early when the ground is still frozen.
How to Plant
Here are some tips on how to plant bare root strawberries:
- Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots without bending them.
- Place the roots in the hole and top with some soil.
- Spread the roots out evenly and cover with soil up to the crown where the roots meet the stem.
- Pack soil gently around roots and avoid air pockets.
- Water thoroughly after planting and keep soil moist but not saturated.
- Consider a starter fertilizer to help establishment.
- Mulch around plants to retain moisture.
Space plants 12-15 inches apart in rows with 2-3 feet between rows. Follow any spacing guidelines on the plant tags. Planting in raised beds allows you to space plants closer together. Try to plant on a cloudy day to avoid stressing plants.
Caring for New Transplants
Proper care once planted helps ensure healthy establishment:
- Watering – Water regularly during first growing season. About 1-2 inches per week. Check soil moisture so plants don’t dry out.
- Fertilizer – Use a balanced organic fertilizer or compost. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers.
- Weed control – Weed regularly to prevent competition for nutrients and water.
- Mulch – Use 2-4 inches of organic mulch like straw around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Runners – Allow runners to establish 25-50 plants then prune off extras to maintain vigor.
The plants will quickly establish an extensive root system during the first year. After this establishment year, a strawberry planting can produce fruit annually for several years with proper care.
Chilling Bare Roots
Some gardeners recommend chilling bare roots before planting. This mimics a longer winter which can lead to better fruit production. To chill, store cleaned roots in bags or pots in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks before planting. Keep the roots moist during this extended cold storage. Then plant according to your climate, usually 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. Research has shown mixed results on whether extended chilling increases yields.
Storing Bare Roots Short Term
For short term storage of just a few days to a week, keep the roots in a plastic bag with moist paper towels. Change out the paper towels periodically to prevent fungal growth. Keep them in the refrigerator until ready to plant. Time the delivery of mail order bare roots so they don’t arrive too far ahead of your planting date.
Storing Bare Roots Long Term
For long term storage, the keys are cold temperatures and high humidity. Some options include:
- Refrigerator in plastic bags with moist paper towels, changing towels periodically.
- Burying roots in sawdust, perlite, peat moss, or vermiculite in a cooler, garage, or basement.
- Heeling in outdoors by burying roots in soil and mulching well, such as for overwintering.
Long term storage should not exceed 3-4 months. Monitor closely for disease and drying out. Long term storage leads to lower success rates when planting.
Storing in Pots vs. Bags
Both plastic bags and pots work well for short term storage. For long term storage, pots may provide better protection. With bags, you have to monitor closely to change out paper towels and check for drying. With pots, the media provides constant moisture and air circulation. Avoid storing in overly wet media or composting may start.
What Not To Do
Here are some common bare root storage mistakes to avoid:
- Letting roots dry out – leads to dead plants
- Storingroots in too much moisture – causes rotting roots
- Storing in warm area or light – causes premature growth
- Storing too long before planting – reduces plant vigor
- Allowing roots to freeze – kills roots and whole plant
- Disturbing or damaging roots – impairs root function
Storing Other Berries
Other berry crops can also be purchased and stored as dormant bare roots including:
- Raspberries – Store like strawberries; keep roots moist and cool.
- Blackberries – Store in slightly drier media like peat or sawdust.
- Blueberries – Store in moist peat, sawdust, or wood shavings.
- Currants and Gooseberries – Store in damp material; avoid drying out.
Monitor all bare roots closely and plant as soon as possible within recommended planting times.
Storing Strawberry Crowns
Strawberry crowns are sometimes available which are just the crown and short root sections. Crowns are harder to keep viable than full bare root plants. Ensure crowns stay moist and plant quickly. Soak in water or moist media for a few hours before planting. Crowns have lower success rates when planted.
Storing Strawberry Runners
You can dig up strawberry runners from an existing bed and store them for planting. Here are some tips for storing runners:
- Dig runners carefully to keep roots intact.
- Remove runners without broken roots or signs of disease.
- Place in plastic bags or pots with moist media.
- Store in cool location for 1-2 weeks max before planting.
- Take extra care not to dry out stored runners.
Plant runners quickly for best results. Runners establish easier than bare roots or crowns.
Buying Tips
When purchasing strawberry bare roots, look for:
- Healthy, plump crowns and white roots without mold or rot.
- Good root structure with some fine feeder roots.
- Disease certification from reputable nursery.
- Chill hours and planting dates on packaging.
- Labels with variety and growth habit like June-bearing, everbearing, or day-neutral.
Choose day-neutral varieties for best results from bare roots. Avoid damaged, dried out, diseased, or mushy plants.
Conclusion
Properly caring for strawberry bare roots before planting is crucial. Keeping the roots moist, cool, and dormant mimics their natural winter dormancy. Plant them as soon as possible when conditions allow to avoid decline. With attention to their storage environment and timely planting, bare roots can grow into robust strawberry plants.
