Growing strawberries in the home garden, Managing pests and disorders
- shidonnaravenc
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Source: University of Minnesota Ext.
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Managing pests and disorders
Gardeners need to be able to identify pests and the damage that they cause to choose the best way to manage them.
Ask a Master Gardener to get help identifying common pest problems or send a sample to the UMN Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.
Protect strawberry flower buds from spring frosts. Do not remove straw mulch used for winter protection until there is no longer a threat of frost, around when lilac buds begin to open. | Early spring |
Leave mulch in the alleyways. To reduce spread of diseases from soil to fruit and leaves, add straw mulch around plants and in alleyways if remaining winter straw mulch is less than 2 inches deep. | Early spring |
If gray mold was a problem the previous year, completely remove all straw mulch from the bed and replace with new straw. | Early spring |
Use mulch to recover flowers if a frost is predicted. | Early spring |
Do not apply nitrogen in spring. It can produce too much young leaf tissue susceptible to leaf-disease fungi. | Early spring |
Look for clipped buds that could mean strawberry bud weevil activity. | Before strawberry flowers bloom |
Look for Tarnished plant bug adults when flower buds are green or white. | Before strawberry flowers bloom |
If gray mold has been a problem in the past, and high humidity or frequent rain during bloom is predicted, spray flowers with fungicide beginning when 10% of the flowers open and repeating once after the time period specified on the label. | Before strawberry flowers bloom |
Set out traps for spotted wing Drosophila. | Strawberry flowers are in full bloom |
Inspect for slugs. Apply baits if damage is detected. | Strawberries are ripe |
Harvest fruit as it ripens to help protect against sap beetles and spotted wing Drosophila; remove and dispose of overripe fruit. | Strawberries are ripe |
Take care not to wound or bruise berries during harvest. | Strawberries are ripe |
Remove berries infected with fruit rot to prevent spread of disease to ripening fruit. Do not place healthy fruit and diseased fruit into the same container. | Strawberries are ripe |
Renovate in the two weeks following harvest. | After harvest |
Rake up and remove all leaf debris from the bed after renovation. | After harvest |
Apply nitrogen fertilizers. | After harvest |
Apply straw that is free of weed seeds two to three inches deep over the plants after they have been subjected to several sharp freezes in the low 30s or high 20s. | Fall |
To produce healthy plants, avoid situations that favor the development of diseases or contribute to insect infestations.
Watering
When watering plants, avoid getting the leaf surfaces wet by using a drip system or a soaker hose.
If a sprinkler system is used, water plants in the mornings on a sunny day to allow leaf surfaces to dry quickly, to reduce fungal diseases.
Site rotation
Land that has been planted in strawberries for 4 years or more can build up a population of root-rotting diseases.
If possible, move strawberry plants to different areas of the garden every 3 to 4 years.
Winter injury
Straw mulch reduces winter injury and plants that have less winter injury have reduced disease.
Straw mulch is important in the spring and summer to reduce fruit and flower diseases by covering the soil and reducing spore movement carried by raindrop splash.
When removing straw in spring, leave 1/2 to 1 inch of straw between rows to keep fruit off the soil and reduce weeds.
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Source: Evergreen Botany
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