In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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April 1, 2008

"Heeling in" buys time

Q: I purchased several varieties of strawberry plant roots, but haven't been able to plant them yet because I've yet to construct a suitable planter bed to hold them. How long can I get away with waiting to plant until these things die on me? I've had them for about three weeks.
Bill Bird, Sacramento

A: Whether it’s strawberry plants, a fruit tree, asparagus crowns or a variety of other plants, we’ve all been guilty of buying something at the nursery we had to have now, and then gotten home in time to realize we didn’t have a place or the time to plant it. Sometimes, if the item is a bare root fruit tree or rose, time is of the essence, and something needs to be done as soon as possible to get those roots into the soil before the plant dies.

The answer is heeling in. That simply means putting the plant in the garden and covering the roots with soil temporarily. You don’t have to actually plant the plants, but rather, lay them in the garden and cover the roots with a bit of soil.

If the strawberry plants you bought are packed in sawdust or peat, leave them. Take them out of the plastic bag, however, so the roots and packing material can breathe and not get moldy. Keep the roots moist but not wet. If you've done this all along, they'll be fine.

Check the roots. Are they soft and pliable. Do they break when you bend them? Are they dried up?

My advice is get them in the ground soon, or even a pot where they can grow until you decide where you want them.

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