Strawberry Bare Root Planting

[B088Y89]

Hi all,

So my strawberry seedlings haven't worked so I thought for this year I would try bare root plants. The question I have is how long do I need to soak the roots for? Somewhere said a few hours and another video was a few minutes?

Also is there anything I should be careful of when planting them?

Thanks,

Rob

[Alison]

I've never soaked them at all, just planted up and given a good water. No probs at all.

[arch01]

I've never bothered either although all of mine are runner transplants. If they are dry bare roots, half an hour while you are getting everything else sorted would probably be good.

[Nicos]

They are hardy...get them stuck in and give them a darned good watering...then stand back

Enjoy.....

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Rob, Strawberries are very much a pretty robust plant to be fair, I remember a few years back when I first set up my strawberry bed, I did actually soak my bare rooted plants overnight, but as Allison said, really don't think there's a need to, and once up n running, you gain more stock from the runners they produce like arch01 said, but a little tip! Bang a few runners in 3 inch pots, once established (Roots showing from the bottom of the pot) sever from the mother plant and overwinter under cover, stick em in a bigger pot, grow bag what ever early spring, that way you get an earlier than expected crop, extending the season a little!

I love Strawberries!

[B088Y89]

Thanks

Thanks for the advice, i have gone with soaking two for a about 20 minutes and not soaking the others so i should be covered, just have to wait until June for them strawberries now

Again thanks for the advice.

Rob

[the big lebowski]

i did the same as allison ,cheers

[FeedTheSoil]

I stand mine in water for a couple of minutes just to wet the root then I sprinkle on mycorrhizal fungi (sticking to wet roots) and pop it into the ground. I water them in with a very small amount of humic acid.

If you have some good compost you can run water through a sieve of it and create a leachate of humates. I believe these help the mycorrhiza to establish faster.

[Alison]

If you have some good compost you can run water through a sieve of it and create a leachate of humates. I believe these help the mycorrhiza to establish faster.

No idea if that works although certainly can't do any harm. However strawberries take very easily so you don't need to do it at all unless you want to

[FeedTheSoil]

I agree

No idea if that works although certainly can't do any harm. However strawberries take very easily so you don't need to do it at all unless you want to

Yeah I agree, it's certainly not a requirement. I innoculate everything (but brassicas) with a tiny amount of mycorrhiza, the benifits are quite amazing. One example would be 40% less watering while maintaining same growth rates and yield.

Beneficial fungi improve drought tolerance in strawberry crops - East Malling Research

I even use ectomycorrhizal on my Apple trees now as research appears to show they form a relationship with both (ecto and endo).

I learnt the compost leachate method from Dr Elaine Ingham, it's apparently a "free source" of humates and maybe even a bit of the acids, although I recon they tend not to be that soluble. You then recompost the leftover leached compost.

Here's also one of her students using a similar method (skip to 20 min mark):

https://youtu.be/jErga1eP718

[SaraJH]

Hi, sorry to jump in but can I plant strawberries now? Do they need any protection after planting?

[Alison]

Hi, sorry to jump in but can I plant strawberries now? Do they need any protection after planting?

Yes you can and no they don't unless they've been kept inside in which case they'll need hardening off a bit.

[SaraJH]

Yes you can and no they don't unless they've been kept inside in which case they'll need hardening off a bit.

Thank you, I've ordered some today so hopefully they will arrive in time for me to plant them over the Easter weekend.

[B088Y89]

Bare Root Strawberry Plants

Hi all,

So about 3 weeks back I planted some bare root strawberry plants, but so far nothing has happened with them, how long should it be before there is any life?

They are in 6 inch pots atm in the greenhouse, i planted one in the ground outside to see what would happen, none of them have done anything.

Cheers,

[WendyC]

Most of my strawberries are only just shooting now. All were planted last year, outside. I suspect yours are busy growing roots before shoots. Are you planning on keeping them in the greenhouse, if not they might be better outside. Where are you and do you have any photos?