keeping strawberry runners

[gan heather]

I received some strawberry runners in the mail on Friday. I'm not able to plant them out until Tuesday, so I followed the instructions that came with them and heeled them into some damp soil. However, they're looking a bit sad and wilty. Is there anything else I should be doing to keep them going until Tuesday afternoon (and for the next time I order strawberry plants)?

[Hermit]

Strawberry runners often look bad when they come for a number of days after planting, ive had 42 runners this year and all looked half dead and sad but after a week or 2 they all picked up, the longer you leave inside the better there growth rate, and quicker they reawaken. Strawberry plants are more expensive, but tend to fruit better and quicker the 1st year after that there the equal of runners. So runners everytime for me.

[Two_Sheds]

I'd just add, puddle them in well when you get them (that goes for anything you are planting). They'll pick up.

This is how I water (it's better for the plant, and it saves time in the long run, because you'll end up using less water): rather than put it in the soil and then sprinkle with water, I dig a hole, pop plant in, fill hole with water once or twice, then backfill with soil. It encourages the roots to go down, which is what you want. Watering the soil encourages roots to come up near the surface, which leads to further drying out in the future.

[gan heather]

Thank you both for the advice. And I'll be sure to water my strawberry plants like that when I plant them out tomorrow.

[Shirley Sherriffs]

Hi there. The mail isnt often kind to small packs of plants. What I 've done in the past is, if they are dryish give hem a wee drink of very diluted tomorite and water(in the bunch and not to deep). After a couple of hours gently seperate them and snip off any bruised or dry leaves and stalks and trim the roots. Then gently pot them up into a 4 pot and sit them on the window sill or a cold greenhouse. Leave them for a week or so before planting out. Its worked for me not just with strawbs but anything really. Good luck