Does anyone know what this is?

[Greenfingeredfaerie]

I recently purchased three pineberry plants over the internet (foolish move, I know, I regret it now) and when they came to me they had darkened patches on some of the leaves





I removed all of these leaves, thinking that it was just a side effect of their travel to get to me and that the remaining healthy parts would be okay. Sadly in the last week I have discovered similar patches appearing on the newer leaves:



I've taken some of the infected leaves down to my local garden centre but they say they have never seen this sort of die-back before. So far I've been unable to identify my problem and I'm desperate to know what this is so that I can fix it.

If anyone has any ideas or advice I will be so grateful

[veggiechicken]

Hello.
Have you asked the vendor what the problem is? If you're concerned ask for a refund.

[rustylady]

I wasn't sure what a pineberry was so I just googled. Apparently it's a white strawberry that tastes of pineapple.

I wonder whether it should even be producing new leaves at this time of year. Where are you keeping your plants, and how long have you had them?

[zazen999]

Aren't they just the leaves dying back?

ETA: didn't see the newer leaves, was on the mini. Definitely looks like some fungal infection - get your money back on those if you can! Where did you get them from?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hello.
Have you asked the vendor what the problem is? If you're concerned ask for a refund.

That would be my advice as well and do let us know when you get a reply.

If this is just a kind of strawberry, there may well be some dieback if the plants are delayed in the post for any reason. Any leaves which have perished may well succumb to fungal disease if there is a lcak of ventilation.

Where have you planted them? Inside or out? I would be for continuing to pick off diseases leaves and I might even be tempted to give them i.e the plants a drench with a fungicide.

[Aberdeenplotter]

lcak = lack

[Potstubsdustbins]

No expert but that looks like strawberry mildew to me. Dark patches on top with curling leaves. Grey mould patches underneath would more or less confirm it.

Colin

[Bigmallly]

Leaf Blight?

Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5e/Leaf_blight.jpg

[Greenfingeredfaerie]

Hi everyone cheers for the messages so far

-- I got them from gardenbargains.com who have failed to respond to a single one of my emails. I did a little research about them and have found other people who have recieved infected / damaged goods and havent been able to get anything back Apparently they have a policy of not taking any sort of responsibility for the things they sell

-- I've had them since early October.

-- They're currently living in my kitchen since the sites I looked at on how to grow them said they liked warmth and indirect sunlight

-- I thought leaf blight at first but that wouldn't explain the effect on the little leaves. Young leaves are supposed to be resistant to it but whatever these dark patches are they're attacking everything

-- I've had a look, can't see any type of mould patches underneath, just the black edges

-- Aberdeenplotter: Can you recommend a good fungicide to look for? I have Fungus Fighter from Bayer Garden but that isn't supposed to be used on food crops

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just have a look on your garden centre shelves to see what you can find that is suitable for food crops. There is an industrial product called Rovral which may be suitable for strawberries but it is expensive and probably not available to the amateur. See the product label here. http://www.agricentre.basf.co.uk/agr.../Rovral_WG.pdf. Note, I don't recommend it, I only mention it is available. I don't use it myself as I'd rather throw out bucket loads of mouldy berries than eat chemical treatments.

[rustylady]

-- I've had them since early October.

-- They're currently living in my kitchen since the sites I looked at on how to grow them said they liked warmth and indirect sunlight

They are a type of strawberry, and as such should not be indoors at this time of the year. Get them out in the fresh air.

[Greenfingeredfaerie]

There's nowhere warm enough in the garden for them, particularly since my neighbour's kids decided to smash the panes of the greenhouse.

Plus I'm not risking them infect everything else in the garden with whatever's making the leaves black

[rustylady]

There's nowhere warm enough in the garden for them, particularly since my neighbour's kids decided to smash the panes of the greenhouse.

Plus I'm not risking them infect everything else in the garden with whatever's making the leaves black

Strawberries are hardy, and in fact need a period of cold during the winter.

[cptncrackoff]

Strawberries dont need to be warm all year!?
Mine are frosty this morning!

a bit of breeze round them might sort the mouldy problem to!? ( although i'm no expert)

...oops beat to it by Rustlady ^

[veggiechicken]

Some interesting info on Pineberries here Pineberry & Pineberries | Strawberry Plants .org