There is nothing quite like the sweet juiciness of a fresh-picked strawberry on a warm summer’s day. Growing strawberries in your garden is an incredibly rewarding and surprisingly beginner-friendly process. You can grow strawberries in hanging baskets, patio containers, raised garden beds, or even as a trailing groundcover.
Once established, strawberry plants are easy to care for and eager to yield continuously throughout the season and even for many seasons to come. Plus, the high price tag and potential pesticide contamination of store-bought strawberries provide all the more reason to grow your own.
But if you’ve ever researched how to plant strawberries, you may find that they are far different from other fruit and vegetable starts. The cheapest and most common way to propagate strawberries is from “bare root” crowns.
Bare root strawberries look like dead little alien roots, but they are in fact very reliable planting material for starting the best strawberry patch you’ve ever grown. The only problem is, there is a lot of confusion around exactly how to plant and store bare root strawberries.
After growing strawberries from bare root crowns on more than ten different professional organic produce farms, I can assure you it’s not nearly as complicated as it may seem. Let’s dig into all the strawberry details!
Bare root strawberries are a popular way for gardeners to start or expand their strawberry patch These dormant crowns arrive without soil attached, making them lighter and cheaper to ship than potted plants. But bare root strawberry plants are perishable and need to be planted soon after receiving them. So how long can you actually keep bare root strawberries before getting them in the ground?
In this article, we’ll discuss the best storage methods and timeline for planting bare root strawberry plants Follow these simple tips and you’ll have the healthiest crowns ready for abundant fruit production this season!
What Are Bare Root Strawberry Plants?
Bare root strawberries are dormant strawberry crowns that arrive without any soil attached to the roots. They are dug up from fields during the winter when the plants are dormant. Then the soil is washed off the roots before packaging and shipping the crowns across the country.
Bare root strawberry plants include the crown, roots, and sometimes small leaves. The crown is the central woody part that the roots and leaves sprout from. This is where new growth will emerge after planting.
These young dormant plants are cheaper and easier to ship than potted strawberries. But they have a shorter shelf life and need more careful handling.
Why You Should Plant Them Quickly
Bare root strawberry plants respire slowly while dormant. But they still need some moisture and cool temps to avoid damage.
Here are the biggest threats to storing bare root strawberry crowns:
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Drying out – Lack of moisture will quickly kill the sensitive roots and new growth.
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Mold – Excess moisture can lead to rotting crowns and roots.
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Early sprouting – Warmer temperatures cause the plants to break dormancy too early. If a cold snap hits after growth starts, it will damage or kill the young plants.
That’s why it is highly recommended to plant bare root strawberries as soon as possible after receiving them. The shorter duration they are out of the ground, the better.
But what if you simply can’t plant them right away? Let’s discuss how to buy some extra time…
Storing Bare Root Strawberry Plants
With proper storage methods, you can keep bare root strawberry plants for 1-2 weeks before planting.
Follow these tips to store crowns:
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Keep Them Cool – Aim for storage temperatures between 32-40°F. The refrigerator works great, just don’t freeze the plants. An unheated garage or root cellar are other good options.
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Increase Humidity – Prevent drying out by keeping the roots moist. Place plants in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel. Mist the roots every few days as needed.
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Avoid Light Exposure – Light and warmth will break dormancy. Keep plants in the dark.
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Allow Air Circulation – Poking some small holes in the storage bag allows fresh air exchange without drying the roots.
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Inspect Frequently – Check for mold, shriveling, or sprouting every 2-3 days. Discard any unhealthy plants.
Emergency Storage Plan
What if your bare root strawberry order gets delayed or you’re not ready to plant? Take these emergency steps to store them:
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Pot them – Plant crowns in containers with potting mix and water well. Keep pots outdoors in a cold frame or unheated garage until ready to transplant into the garden.
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Heel them in – Temporarily plant crowns close together in a trench outdoors. Cover roots with soil or mulch. Dig them back up once your planting bed is prepared.
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Keep them chilled – For 1-2 weeks maximum, store crowns wrapped in damp paper towels inside a perforated plastic bag in the fridge.
While not ideal, these methods buy you a bit more time before the strawberries break dormancy.
How Long Can Bare Root Strawberries Be Stored?
So what’s the maximum duration you can store bare root strawberry plants before planting them?
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Ideally, plant them immediately after receiving the shipment.
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The quicker they get in the ground, the faster roots establish and new growth starts.
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But with proper cold storage and humidity, you can keep healthy bare root strawberry crowns for up to 2 weeks maximum.
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Any longer than that, the roots start to deteriorate or the plants can come out of dormancy too early. Growth that begins indoors will be damaged once moved outdoors into the garden.
While some expert gardeners claim they’ve stored bare roots for 6-8 weeks, that is risky and can result in poorer plant establishment and fewer fruits. Play it safe and stick within 1-2 weeks for best results.
Ordering Tips
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Order bare root strawberries early enough so they arrive 1-2 weeks before your anticipated planting date.
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Check the estimated shipping dates from the nursery so that the order doesn’t show up too far in advance. Most nurseries start shipping strawberry crowns in early spring.
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If you need to store the bare root plants for the maximum duration, follow the humidity and temperature guidelines outlined above.
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Select day-neutral strawberry varieties if you have to plant later in the growing season. June-bearing types need more lead time to establish and produce fruit that same year.
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Finally, resist the urge to order more crowns than you can plant in a week or two. It’s better to get a second shipment later than try to store a huge batch of crowns for too long.
Planting Strawberries After Storage
Once you’re ready to get those stored bare root strawberry plants in the ground, follow these tips:
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Inspect roots and discard any mushy or moldy plants. Trim off dead roots.
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Soak crowns in room temperature water for 1 hour before planting to rehydrate.
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Dig a hole deep enough to cover roots and crown while leaving growing tip exposed.
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Backfill soil and press firmly to remove air pockets.
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Water newly planted crowns daily for the first week.
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Consider using a transplant fertilizer to reduce transplant shock.
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Add an organic mulch like straw to retain moisture while plants establish.
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Protect from any expected frosts with row covers.
Even if you had to store bare root strawberry plants for a week or two, they should still establish and thrive with proper planting and care. Just follow cold storage best practices and plant them as soon as you can.
Key Takeaways
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Bare root strawberries should ideally be planted immediately after receiving them. Proper cold, humid storage can extend this to 1-2 weeks maximum.
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Prevent drying out, rotting, and premature sprouting by keeping crowns chilled, humid, and in the dark during storage.
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If planting must be delayed, consider emergency storage options like potting, heel-in planting, or refrigeration.
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Discard any moldy or unhealthy looking crowns before planting stored bare roots.
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Plant stored strawberries as soon as conditions allow and care for them diligently while roots establish.
Bare root strawberry plants need to be planted soon after receiving them for best results. But with some simple storage methods, you can buy yourself an extra week or two before getting them in the ground.
The keys are keeping crowns cold (32-40°F), humid, and in the dark. Inspect frequently and plant immediately once conditions allow.
Following these guidelines, bare root strawberry plants can be stored for 1-2 weeks maximum before root or sprout damage occurs. For easiest planting and best fruit yields, get them in the soil as soon as possible!
Preparing Planting Beds or Pots
Strawberry beds should have a generous helping of compost or decomposed leaves added to the soil and raked clean. Strawberries prefer a rich well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Use a tape measure to mark off at least one square foot of space per plant. Some gardeners prefer 18” between plants for maximum airflow.
If you are growing in a container or pot, it needs to be at least 6” deep to give the strawberry plenty of space to root. Hanging baskets work great for a beautiful edible display of berries.
What are Bare Root Strawberries?
Bare root strawberries are exactly what they sound like: strawberry crowns with naked roots. When they arrive in the mail or at your local nursery, they look like barren spindly roots without any soil. I’ve often joked that the long stick-like appendages of a strawberry crown look like a hairdo gone wrong.
This propagation material is unnervingly different from the vegetable plugs or fruit containers we often see at garden stores.
Bare root strawberries are crowns that have been dug up from mother strawberry plants and then washed, refrigerated, and eased into dormancy for shipment all over the country. This dormant phase is what makes strawberries so much more amenable to shipping and storage than other types of plants.
They may arrive bundled together, with or without sprouts at the top of the crowns. The roots sometimes even look dead, but rest assured, strawberries are resilient and ready to grow even if there isn’t any green on them. As we’ll explore below, it’s quite easy to figure out whether or not your plants are rotten or damaged before planting them.
 How to Store Bare Root until Time to Plant
FAQ
How do you store bare root strawberries before planting?
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1. Check the Roots:Ensure the roots are in good, moist condition.
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2. Wrap in Moist Material:Wrap the roots in a slightly damp paper towel, newspaper, or the original packing material.
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3. Secure in a Breathable Bag:Place the wrapped roots in a breathable bag like a plastic bag with air holes or a ziplock bag with some air removed.
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4. Cool Storage:Store the bagged plants in a cool, dark place with temperatures between 32°F and 40°F (0°C to 4°C). This could be the refrigerator, a cold basement, or an unheated garage.
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5. Monitor and Adjust:Check the roots every few weeks to ensure they haven’t dried out or developed mold or rot. Mist lightly with water if they appear dry.
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6. Prepare for Planting:Before planting, rehydrate the roots by soaking them in water for a few hours.
How long can you keep bare root plants before planting?
- Keep the bare-root plants in their original packaging (if they came with it) and ensure the roots stay moist but not soggy.
- Store them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and strong winds.
- If the roots dry out, rehydrate them by soaking them in water for a few hours.
How long can bare root strawberries survive?
Ideally you plant bare-root strawberries promptly after receiving them but that’s not always possible. Under certain conditions, you can store them for a maximum of two weeks. Most likely, the plants will have dried out during shipping. Keep them in the original plastic bag and mist them very lightly with water.
What if I can’t plant my bare root strawberries right away?
Don’t stress! If you’re ready to plant your bare root strawberry plants now, then feel free to put them straight into your growing medium! If you’re not quite ready to grow your bare root strawberries, place them in the fridge in a breathable bag. This will keep them dormant and fresh for weeks.
How do you keep a bare root strawberry plant alive?
Rotten roots = dead strawberry plants. So, by covering the roots and then regularly applying enough water to keep the roots moist (but not waterlogged), your bare-root strawberries will likely be vibrant when warmer temperatures come in the spring. 3. Store in a hospitable climate. Temperature dictates a strawberry plant’s seasonal cycle.
How long can bare-root strawberries be stored?
Ideally you plant bare-root strawberries promptly after receiving them but that’s not always possible. Under certain conditions, you can store them for a maximum of two weeks. Most likely, the plants will have dried out during shipping.
How long should strawberry roots be?
Bare-root strawberry plants often have very long roots of up to 12 inches, which is impractical for planting. Trim these roots back with pruners so that at least 6 inches of the root remain.
When should bare-root strawberries be planted?
Bare-root strawberries should be planted in the early spring while they are still dormant, without any sign of new growth on them. Because of their light weight, bare roots are easy to ship, which is the way mail-order nurseries sell strawberries.
How do you store bare-root strawberries?
One of the best places to store bare-root strawberry plants is in a root cellar. If a root cellar is unavailable, an unheated garage or basement will usually do the trick. But, if the temperature rises and brings forth the strawberries from dormancy and a cold snap follows, they will likely suffer cold injury and may die.
Can bare root strawberries be transplanted?
When transferring bare-root strawberry plants, it is recommended to carefully dig up the entire plant, ensuring that the central root system remains intact. This is crucial for the successful transplantation and survival of the plants.