Like Len I'd never use black plastic. Landscape fabric that is permeable, sure, plactic, no. But if you do I can't imagine how you'd get enough moisture down to the soil and roots without drip or soaker set-up underneath it. Otherwise you'd have to cut/stab/poke so many holes in it that you defeat the purpose of using it for weed supression - they just come up through all the holes you made. Your bottle idea might work if you set it higher - gravity is needed for the water to feed out - and if you can keep the holes in the bottle from getting plugged by soil. Check out a product called Aqua Cones that screw onto pop bottles. If all else fails pick up some old garden hose at garage sales, poke holes in it and put it under the black plastic. Dave

Prairie Moon, I wouldn't soak the roots for a day In fact, I wouldn't soak them at all. Just keep the roots moist, and the plants in a cool place, and plant tomorrow. Earlier this spring I received some strawberry plants that were in transit for about a week. I kept them in the refrigerator for another 3 or 4 days before planting. Ended up losing about 10%.

Bob: Runners root only at nodes where there are clusters of leaves, and if you cut them off before they root they will die, regardless of your efforts to start them in water or pots. They are sustained by the mother plant while in the process of rooting. Cut a slit in the plastic at the point of a flush of leaves, and stick the runner through until it touches the soil. If it won't stay, you can pin it with a wire or weight. Some of the runners will have multiple flushes of leaves, and each one is capable of rooting. After the runners have rooted, you may dig them out and transplant them wherever you like. That will be in late fall or very early next spring.

We had quite a discussion about these on this Forum last year when I used them. I found that they dried out really fast in the spring when it was sunny and I had to water each day, but I was successful because I was vigilant. I found some of a similar construction but much deeper (can hold 3 inches of soil) that contained Ontario plums and I have used them this year. They are so convenient - no punching of holes or cutting to do - and I did not line them. I hope I can find some more this summer. Another disadvantage is the lack of 'head space' in them. I lost a few Nasturtiums last year because they grew too tall before it was time to leave the lid open and they were 'fried'.