Bareroot Season is Here!

Many people love bareroot season, they load themselves up with a huge variety of fruits, berries and roses. So if you plan on getting into the bareroot craze its important to remember the key to success is preperation. It is also important to remember bareroot planting does not provide you with the instant gratification a containerized plant will. For instance a bareroot blueberry may take 3-5 years to bear fruit where as a 2 gallon containerized blueberry will bear fruit that season. So when selecting and planning your garden keep that in mind.

Follow our suggestions below to help make your bareroot adventure successful and bountiful.

1. Keep the roots wrapped or covered in soil until you are ready to plant. Even short exposure to sunlight can shock the root system.

2. Now get out your secret weapon: Big Bloom Liquid Organic Fertilizer. That’s right—it’s not just for flowers. Big Bloom is actually a great root drench that will get bareroot plants off to an amazing start. In a bucket, mix 1/4 cup of Big Bloom per gallon of room temperature water. Soak the roots in the mixture for 1 hour prior to planting, being sure to keep the roots out of sunlight.

3. While your roots are soaking, dig a hole 2-3 times the size of the root ball when it’s spread out. Fill with a mixture of FoxFarm’s Original Planting Mix or Happy Frog Soil conditioner, combined with native soil.

4. Mix with our dry Peace of Mind Starter Organic Fertilizer according to package directions.

5. After your roots have finished their spa treatment, carefully place each bareroot plant in its hole, making sure to spread the roots out and cover them well. Water immediately. That’s all you need to do until you start to see new growth in the spring. To get the most out of those bareroot plants, start a regular feeding schedule with American Pride, our time-release fertilizer for roses and other flowering shrubs and trees, or Marine Cuisine, the time-release blend that works best for blueberries, trees, and evergreens.

Best of luck to you and remember if you have any problems or questions we are always free to assist you!