Planting Tips for the Best Success! 

Proper planting depth and technique is critical to success. One of the most common causes of planting failures we run into is improper planting technique. Below are our planting recommendations for best success.

Bare Root Strawberry

Strawberry leaves, roots, runners, and fruit all develop from the crown. Bareroot strawberry plants should be planted so that the middle of the crown is level with the soil surface. It is important that the roots are planted straight down and are not bent at the bottom. Be sure to dig a hole deep enough to accommodate all of the roots or use a tool such as the Nourse Farms Strawberry Planting Tool to push the roots into the soil. Care should be taken to maintain good soil contact and ensure soil is pressed firmly around the crown, but not hard-packed.

Bare Root Raspberry

Raspberries develop new growth/canes from their shallow root systems. Dig a trench 3–4” and set raspberry roots horizontally along the trench, ensuring there is no more than 1–1½” of soil covering the roots. If using a plastic mulch in the planting year, best results can be achieved by setting the raspberry plants first and then laying plastic over them, poking the sticks through the plastic. It is critical that the roots are not set too deep, as this can prevent new growth and result in plant failure.

Blackberry & Black Raspberry Plugs

Blackberries and black raspberries generate new cane growth from the crown. Like red raspberries, it is important that they are not planted too deep. Blackberry and black raspberry plants will arrive as a dormant plug. Plug plants should be set so that the top of the plug is approximately ½” below the soil surface.

Asparagus 

Asparagus plants send new spears from the roots each spring, so they should be planted deep enough to avoid early emergence, but not too deep to prevent emergence all together. Dig a furrow 6–8” deep. Lay roots horizontally along the bottom of the furrow and cover with approximately 2” of soil. As spears emerge and grow up out of the trench, gradually back fi ll the trench with soil until it is completely filled.

Rhubarb

We recommend planting rhubarb into heavily composted soil. Rhubarb plants will arrive from us as root divisions and you will find buds nestled in a protective layer of dark, papery husks. Set divisions in the ground with buds pointing up, approximately ½” below the soil surface. Be sure to maintain good soil contact and avoid breaking the buds.

Horseradish

Horseradish roots will arrive with a flat cut end and a slanted cut end. Set horseradish in the ground at a 45 degree angle with the flat end up and the slanted end down, 1–2” below the soil surface.  

This article is from the 2023 Spring Commercial Newsletter.