Contents
Strawberry diseases: how to treat strawberries? Video
Strawberries are a low, densely growing crop. In its plantings, a microclimate is quite often formed, which contributes to the emergence and spread of various diseases, as well as pests.
Strawberry diseases: how to fight?
Strawberry powdery mildew disease
One of the most common fungal diseases of garden strawberries is powdery mildew. It affects all aerial parts of the plant: leaves, whiskers, flowers, ovaries and berries. First, on the underside of the leaves, a white, almost imperceptible bloom forms in the form of separate spots, which then begin to join. Leaves affected by powdery mildew become wrinkled and thickened. The ovaries stop developing, turn brown and dry. Strawberries are covered with a white, fluffy bloom, turn gray and start to rot. On the strawberry whiskers, areas of tissue die off, while acquiring a brown color.
The fight against powdery mildew begins in the spring: with the collection of old leaves, which are then burned. To treat the disease, strawberries are sprayed during the growing season, before flowering and after picking berries. For spraying, use a solution of soda ash (50 g per 10 liters of water) or ash liquor.
For the prevention of powdery mildew, it is necessary to thin out the plants and avoid waterlogging of the soil.
Before planting, strawberry seedlings should be disinfected in a solution of copper sulfate, lowering the plants into it for several minutes. After the procedure, the strawberries are washed in running water, and then planted in the ground.
Garden strawberry pest – strawberry nematode
The strawberry nematode is a parasitic worm that damages the terrestrial parts of the plant. In spring, worm-infested plants grow with short, misshapen cuttings on which are curled leaves. Such strawberries later develop small ugly fruits.
To scare off the nematode, marigolds are planted next to strawberries
It is necessary to deal with the strawberry nematode as follows. In May-June, all damaged strawberry bushes should be eliminated. It is advisable to burn them or bury them outside the site, pouring a 4% formalin solution before this.