Plant Care & Gardening Tips@ HortChat.com©

I am having a problem with the simplest of plants : Strawberries. I have been able to grow them from seeds and then transplant them to my garden. However, I can not grow them from dry root plants. I first tried planting them outside, they died. I then tried soaking them for a little while and then planting them in posts, they are dying. They do very well for about a week and then they wilt, the leaves curl in and they die.

There could be a number of problems with planting your strawberries: When buying plants, make sure they are certified virus-free. Protect plant roots from drying out until you can get them into the ground 1. wrap them in plastic and refrigerate or 2. “Heal” them in the soil - dig a furrow deep enough to cover the roots with soil and water. This will work for a few days.

Strawberries need well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of sunlight. When planting make sure they are set in the correct depth and fan out the roots before covering them. Crowns planted too deep will smother and die. Crowns set too high above the soil will dry out. Plant in the spring on a cloudy day or late afternoon, in rich composted soil that holds moisture. The shallow roots get all their moisture and nutrients in the top few inches of the soil. Water after planting - do not let the soil dry out, spread mulch, straw or shredded leaves to keep the soil moist and control weeds. Do not plant strawberries in low-lying frost areas or in wet soil or where solanaceous crops suc as tomatoes and peppers have been grown for the last 5 years. This is a source for verticilium wilt which is a deadly disease for strawberries.