How Long for Dormant Bare Root Strawberry Plants to Sprout?

Breaking Dormancy

• In general, bare root strawberry plants begin to sprout approximately two months after planting. Each variety may have a slight variation from this time period, but all strawberries will grow within the year. Any plants that do not sprout after several months are not viable specimens. To ensure sprouting, you must break the plants' dormancy with moisture. Allow the strawberry plants to remain in their moist packing material, such as newspaper, until you are ready to plant them. To encourage vigorous initial root spread, place the plants in water for up to 20 minutes; the roots quickly respond to the moisture and begin absorption processes.

Proper Planting

• Choose a planting location with at least six hours of daily sunlight, but wait until a cloudy day in early spring for the initial transplanting. Bare root strawberry stocks are easily stressed during transplanting and may take longer to sprout under poor planting conditions. Observe your exposed roots, and cut away any sickly ends using sharp gardening shears. Create a planting hole with a centered mound. Your strawberry crown rests on this hill as roots cascade down the sides. Cover the roots with soil, and water the plant immediately. You should spread up to 2 inches of mulch across the ground to maintain mild soil temperatures while the strawberries acclimate to their new location.

Water Influence

• Your dormant strawberry plants are bound to sprout quickly if roots appear slightly swollen and heavy after a water soaking. A shriveled and dry appearance indicates moisture absorption failure and continued dormancy. Once you plant these viable specimens, maintain moist soil conditions to encourage sprouting, flowering and fruiting. Generally, strawberries require about 1 inch of water each week. Shallow strawberry roots cannot search for deep moisture pockets, so topsoil dampness is critical.

Encouraging Spread

• After sprouting, strawberry plants quickly resort to foliage and reproductive development. To encourage strong roots and increased foliage growth, cut away any flowers in the first growing year. Your strawberry plants then redirect energy into vegetative growth rather than reproduction. As a result, your second year's harvest will produce larger fruits with higher yields. Plants need time to create large enough leaves for maximum photosynthesis processes and wide root spreads.