Should I spray my strawberries with Bordeaux mixture

[scarey55]

We have had a long spell of dry, sunny weather but rain is forecast for tomorrow so, I have just sprayed my grapevines with Bordeaux mixture and I am wondering if I should do my strawberries?

Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

[rustylady]

WHY??? I understood Bordeaux Mixture was used to prevent seedlings damping off. I don't know of any other uses for it, please enlighten me.

[Snadger]

WHY??? I understood Bordeaux Mixture was used to prevent seedlings damping off. I don't know of any other uses for it, please enlighten me.

Are you not mixing up Bordeaux mixture with Cheshunt Compound which I occasionally use to prevent damping off of seedlings rustylady?

[crichmond]

Bordeaux mixture is a copper fungicide used to try and counteract things like olive black spot and potato/tomato blight.

I use it on my olive tree at the start of the winter every year.

[Tam]

The only problem I ever have with my strawberries are slugs and, for the past few years we have resident toads who keep the fruit free of slugs. I net them, as the blackbirds eat more than a fair share if I leave them without nets.

[Nicos]

I've never thought about spraying strawberries with Bordeaux mixture Scarey- but I don't see why not.
We had really bad blight last year on the spuds and toms- but my strawberry plants were no more fungusy than usual. we just picked off affected leaves- (botritus) .

Just remember to wash them thoroughly before you eat them!!
( it's a bit off-putting the thought of a blue strawberry though isn't it????)

[scarey55]

Thanks everyone - I had some mouldy fruit later on in the season last year and I automatically thought it was due to the blight that just about did for everything. I guess I'm just being a bit over cautious, I really want to look after my babies a bit better this year.

Mmm... Nicos, it does leave an interesting blue tinge over everything but quite a nice shade of blue nonetheless

[Alison]

I didn't think that strawberries suffered from blight so don't see the point really.

[Nicos]

Alison- I was under the impression that it covers most of the fungal infections????

[Alison]

You could well be right Nicos, it's just connected in my brain to blight and have never used it for anything else.

[rustylady]

Are you not mixing up Bordeaux mixture with Cheshunt Compound which I occasionally use to prevent damping off of seedlings rustylady?

Probably Snadger - I try very hard not to use any chemicals unless absolutely necessary, and I've never had to spray my strawberries with anything.