Care of Strawberry Roots

Dormant strawberries, called bare-root plants, don't come potted in soil. The roots appear dead, and shriveled leaves may still be attached to the plants, but they are still alive, and they quickly leaf out once planted in the garden. It's best to purchase bare-root strawberries the day you plan to plant them in the bed. If the weather prevents you from planting, you can keep the plants alive until the conditions are right by keeping the roots moist and protected.

Knife
Pots
Potting soil
Bucket

Instructions

- 1
  Unpack the roots carefully, taking care not to bend or break the roots. Remove any packing material, usually peat moss, from around the roots.
- 2
  Trim off dead and broken roots and root tips with a clean, sharp knife. Do not cut through healthy root tissue.
- 3
  Place 2 inches of soil in a 4-inch pot. Set the strawberry root in the pot. Avoid bending or breaking the roots.
- 4
  Fill in around the roots with more soil. Add soil until the crown of the plant -- where the stems emerge from the dried roots -- sits at or slightly above the soil surface.
- 5
  Water the soil until it's moist but not wet. Set them in a cool area protected from heavy frost where they get some indirect light, such as on a porch or in a garage.
- 6
  Remove the roots from the pots just before planting and before the strawberries begin putting on new growth. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for 20 minutes before planting.

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