What is eating my strawberries?

[Leeder]

Hi there,

I have been enjoying lots of fresh strawberries this year from my garden.

I haven't been out in the garden for a couple days because of the bad weather, however I went out this morning to collect some strawberries, open greenhouse, tie back peas etc.

On collecting the strawberries I noticed 4 or 5 appeared to have been eaten by something. I am growing my strawberries this year in troughs on the patio, they are uncovered.

I am not sure if it is birds or insects etc eating them, as I have found slugs and snails on them at night when I do my 'snail hunt' and I have had lots of house sparrows in my garden the last couple of weeks hunting and eating all the green catapillars from my lupins, so could it be the birds or the catapillars?

I have included a pic, hopefully someone can help - so I can try to remedy this before it gets to bad, if needed.

Many thanks for you help in advance.

Lee

P.S - I was in two minds whether this should be posted on the pests and diseases forum, so please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong place.

[rustylady]

Take your pick as to what eats strawberries Birds, slugs, snails and woodlice love them. Birds usually leave sharp edged holes (if they leave anything at all). Snails and woodlice gnaw themselves a little "cave", usually on the underside of the fruit. Looking at your picture, could it be that the fruit has split due to erratic watering? I know tomatoes do this, not sure about strawberries. Mine haven't but they're in the ground on the allotment. I do have some in the back garden in pots, but they're not ready yet.

[kernowyon]

Looking at your picture, could it be that the fruit has split due to erratic watering? I know tomatoes do this, not sure about strawberries.

certainly looks like splitting rather than something nibbling on them

[Madasafish]

Look similar to ours: fieldmice.

[Protea]

I would say it loks like early slug/snail damage and when the fruits have started to swell you've got that slightly 'split' look, but it defo looks like a mollusc has been at it to begin with!

[Leeder]

Thanks for all the suggestions, the watering part is out of my control as that would be down to all the rain we have been having.

I will definately increase my nightly 'snail/slug hunts' just incase, regardless of how silly my wife thinks I look like with my head torch gizmo on.

Main thing is, I don't have to feel guilty about encouraging the birds into my garden, if it's not them

Thanks again.

[Paulottie]

I agree with Protea - that's snail damage.

Blackbirds particularly love straws- you need to net them with the net away from the plant while the fruits are ripening.

[CADS]

The same thing is happening to my strawberries and I have put it down to woodlice. I have actually found them eating the strawberries while I have been picking them. Yikes, they've given me the creeps, I don't think anyone has dropped their much loved strawberries so quickly.

[Cutecumber]

It's so depressing, isn't it. I nearly cried this week - my first ever strawberries have been attacked by birds and pinched by squirrels.

I hate gardening, it's not fair

[SMS6]

Yes,like CADS, I found mine were covered in woodlice and the little blighters were munching away as I picked.

Anyone any ideas how to keep them off?

[Paulottie]

I have found that woodlice are rarely the culprit -they seem to take advantage of the rotting vegetation and already damaged fruit.