More strawberry traumas.

[bobbin]

Some of my strawberries though fruiting perfectly well, have collapsed. I think maybe. it's fungal. Not sure. Don't appear to need water. Weathers been very warm. (My straw mulch may have locked in too much moisture initiall after a thunderstorm) Any one familiar with this problem.
If I pull them out I guess replanting strawberries there's a no go ... is it not.

[veggiechicken]

Photos would help!

[bobbin]

I've never been able to put photos on here. Tried unsuccessfully awhile ago and since forgotten how to.

[veggiechicken]

There are several "How to post photos" links in https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...tos_97050.html

Have another try. Without a photo we're just guessing at what you mean.

[nickdub]

Some of my strawberries though fruiting perfectly well, have collapsed. I think maybe. it's fungal. Not sure. Don't appear to need water. Weathers been very warm. (My straw mulch may have locked in too much moisture initiall after a thunderstorm) Any one familiar with this problem.
If I pull them out I guess replanting strawberries there's a no go ... is it not.

Plants with disease problems tend to fade and get more sickly slowly - fast collapse of previously healthy plants usually means something eating the roots - vine weevil grubs are v fond of strawberries - so have a furtle round in the compost to check whaty's happening there.

[scarey55]

I found that I had a lot of collapsed strawberries after I used old straw. I think you might be right, either wet straw or it might have been harbouring some mould before you put it there.

I'm afraid I don't know if you should re-use the ground, but I did and it got better over time. The advice given to me was, don't plant them too close together to allow a lot of space for air to circulate.

Good luck next year.

[Earthgirl Jen]

Some of my strawberries though fruiting perfectly well, have collapsed. I think maybe. it's fungal. Not sure. Don't appear to need water. Weathers been very warm. (My straw mulch may have locked in too much moisture initiall after a thunderstorm) Any one familiar with this problem.
If I pull them out I guess replanting strawberries there's a no go ... is it not.

Hi Bobbin

it's been a very unusual year have you had a lot of rain thunderstorms down in West Sussex. (for once it's not us the wild wet and windy coast )

Strawberries like warm, dry and sunny weather. The humidity hasn't helped anyone lately and strawberries are particularly prone to rot and mildew if there isn't enough 'dryish' air circulation. It's usually not a problem but this year, the last month has been very humid and 'non' windy... Up until the last week for us! windy that is, that humidity we just get used to on the coast....

If the main 'crown of your plant at the base is still solid and firm then take off affected strawberries and leaves . chances are the plants will still be good for next year. If the base of the plant is rotting as well, then it gives you a good excuse to buy some new strawberries

Chances are you did no harm with your straw mulch and were careful to lift the leaves and flowers above it.. It could just be a weather thing?

Apologies for butting in to the thread x

[Earthgirl Jen]

Bobbin update to this thread...

I checked my strawberries this morning as I wanted a few to go with my breakfast, (rice krispies with banana and strawberries ) I found several plants where the fruit was just grey mouldy lumps, I removed them and I'm hoping the main stem is still ok I'll check in a day or two as they are usually resilient little plants.

Found a few that were ok, breakfast was yummy

[It never rains..it pours]

5 out of 20 in a bed have collapsed here, 4 of which are dead. Looks like verticillum wilt to me. Of the four varieties Christine are the only ones not effected and cropped very well, so will be putting runners from them into the 5 gaps

[MarkPelican]

My strawberries have also suffered, but the culprit is easy to identify - Grey Squirrels. They've eaten their way through the netting and had a field day.