Kitchen Garden Forum

I knew my luck with the ciflorette strawbs was too good for some bad stuff not to come my way! My english variety strawbs (labels long since lost along with memory) that are now coming on have a high proportion of the fruit(80%)turning grey/brown and squishy before fully ripening. The french ones are completely unaffected. Does anyone have any ideas on identification & prevention/cure? I've looked through old KG magazines which have quite a few articles on their favourites & how to grow them, but not much on problems.
Thanks all,
Vivien

Sounds like grey mould. Usually happens in humid conditions.
I would destroy as much mouldy fruit as you can, clean out round the plants and try and make them as airy as possible.

Beryl.

This has happened with a few of mine, mainly I suspect because they're grown on very dry soil and I've needed to water them regularly now fruit is ripening and forming. I suspect that because lots of the fruit is hidden beneath leaves, they remain wet and sodden and this triggers the rot. This is where straw comes in helpful, in raising the berries above the soil but as I don't have any straw I just try and walk around the bed once a day exposing as many fruit as possible to the sun where they dry out.I did try using grass cuttings but they went mouldy and started to worsen the problem so I removed them. Possibly crumpled newspaper around the plants might help.

Thanks Beryl & Primrose - I think I'll try and take some remedial action this evening before the rain strikes and really does for them.

You'd think an english variety would be able to cope with damp conditions wouldn't you? My Florence are appalling now it is raining, a complete write off.

I grow Marshmello for that very reason. It is one variety that holds it's fruit high off the ground.
Never had a problem with grey mould.
Available from Marshalls and probably other growers to.

Beryl.

Good point, Beryl. Ciflorette fruit are also very high off the ground, so perhaps I'll get some marshmello for next year.

Hi Fen,
The problem that you have is the reason why the Strawberry and Raspberry Growers in this region have gone for temporary Polythene Tunnels you know those that everybody seems to complain about. Yet as soon as the season is over they are removed mainly.
Now they cannot get the staff to pick the fruit because the LA will not allow the growers to erect temporary housing for the staff quarters.
There are acres and acres going unpicked here just going to waste. It's a crying shame.
Then there is poor Vivien loosing all of hers because of the weather.
Vivien I feel that probably you have watered generally over the top of the Strawberries which they do not like and they are best watered with a W.can around the plants but not over the crop.
Primrose straw should not be hard to get and if I lived closer I would bring you a bale or two.
I have a barn half full of Barley Straw which is of absolutely no consolation to you. Fat lot of help I am!
JB.