Why strawberries dry and do not turn red in the garden: reasons and what to do

People growing strawberries often face the fact that the berries dry up and do not have time to ripen. It is recommended to figure out in advance why strawberries do not turn red and dry, as well as familiarize yourself with ways to fix this problem.

Causes of drying strawberries and ways to deal with them

There are several main reasons why strawberries can dry out.

Weather conditions

Often problems in growing strawberries appear due to adverse weather conditions. The development of planted berries may be impaired due to:

• high temperature;
• drought;
• night frosts;
• high levels of humidity and frequent rains.

All of the above factors negatively affect the growth and fruiting of planted strawberries. However, the most dangerous is a hot summer without rain, because of which the soil quickly dries up. In drought conditions, the bushes lack moisture, and they quickly dry out. To prevent this from happening, you will have to install a sprinkler irrigation system for beds in the garden.

Lack of watering

Another common reason why the edges of the leaves turn yellow and the fruits ripen slowly is insufficient moisture. Most often, this problem appears in the summer, when the temperature outside reaches 30-35 degrees. With such severe droughts, the plant dies due to a lack of moisture.

Therefore, during the cultivation of strawberries, it is necessary to ensure that the soil is always moist.

Experienced gardeners advise watering strawberries every day. At the same time, 5-7 liters of water are spent on each of the bushes.

Fungal diseases

Strawberry bushes often dry out in the garden due to fungal diseases. There are several common diseases that need to be studied in more detail.

Grey Rot

A dangerous disease that appears not only on strawberries, but also on other plants. The development of gray rot is evidenced by brown spots on the leaves, the size of which gradually increases. Over time, spotting extends to fruits that begin to rot. Rotten berries constantly suck the juice out of the plant, causing the leaves to turn yellow.

It is impossible to cure this disease, and therefore all infected bushes must be immediately dug up and burned. If this is not done, the disease will spread to nearby he althy plants.

Powdery mildew

The most common fungal pathologies include powdery mildew, which affects young leaves of seedlings. If the disease is not treated, it will begin to spread to the berries, tendrils and stems of the bushes. First, a white coating appears on the sheets. Then the infected leaves will begin to dry out and twist into a tube.

Powdery mildew appears with warm air and high humidity. That is why the disease affects bushes grown in greenhouses. To get rid of the symptoms of powdery mildew, infected seedlings are treated with a whey solution.

Verticillium wilt

This pathology is considered the most dangerous fungal disease that leads to the withering of strawberry bushes. Withering symptoms do not appear immediately. First, leaflets located at the bottom of the stem are affected. Brown spots appear on them, which eventually completely cover the surface of the leaves.Gradually, the spot spreads to the rest of the plant, after which it dries.

Even if the disease is detected at an early stage of development, it will not work to save the infected bushes. They will have to be dug up and burned so that the disease does not infect other strawberry seedlings.

Light blight

Notice late blight on a bush is quite simple, since immediately after infection, brown spots appear on the surface of the leaves. Late blight is dangerous for strawberries, as it affects the fruits, which gradually rot.

You can get rid of late blight with a solution made from copper sulfate.

Also effective means include "Fitosporin" and Bordeaux mixture. Some gardeners recommend spraying seedlings with a solution of laundry soap or whey.

Pests

Not only diseases lead to the drying of strawberries, but also some pests.

Nematode

A common pest that causes strawberries to wither is a nematode. It is a thin and transparent worm that has an oblong and cylindrical shape. Getting on the leaves of plants, they begin to feed on the juice, which leads to the drying of the bushes.

To clean the bushes from nematodes, you need to spray them with a solution of copper sulfate. Also, the bushes are treated with garlic tincture. To prepare it, 250 grams of garlic are grated and mixed with a liter of warm water.

Strawberry mite

A small insect that is difficult to see with the naked eye. Most often, strawberry mites are noticed after strawberries turn yellow. These pests, like nematodes, feed on plant sap. The following signs indicate the presence of strawberry mites:

• Slow development of seedlings. The appearance of insects negatively affects the growth of bushes.
• Plaque. An oily coating with a yellowish tint appears on the affected leaves.

Karbofos is considered the most effective remedy against ticks. Bushes are sprayed with it at least twice a week.

Strawberry Raspberry Weevil

The bushes attacked by the weevil dry quickly and die. To get rid of this dangerous beetle, you need to use birch tar. You can also use a solution of laundry soap. To prepare it, two bars of soap are added to 3 liters of water.

What to do if the cause is not established?

Sometimes people cannot determine the exact cause of the yellowing of planted strawberries. In this case, all the yellowed seedlings will have to be transplanted to a new place and observe them. If over time the yellowness disappeared, then the soil lacked nutrients.

Preventive measures

To protect strawberry seedlings from pests and diseases, you will have to take the following preventive measures:

• Timely watering. It's no secret that lack of moisture often results in yellow foliage. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly moisten the soil so that it does not dry out.
• Feeding. In order for the seedlings to get sick less often and be stronger, it is necessary to periodically feed them. 2-3 times per season, the bushes are fed with superphosphate, humus and wood ash.
• Spraying with soda solution. This alkaline liquid prevents the appearance and development of fungal diseases.

Conclusion

Many gardeners are faced with the problem of yellowing strawberries during cultivation. To get rid of this problem and prevent its occurrence, you need to familiarize yourself with the main reasons for the drying of the bushes and methods for eliminating them.

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