Strawberry is a low-growing perennial grown for its fruit. It spreads by runners and forms dense mats over time. Most home gardeners grow June-bearing types for a concentrated early-summer crop, or everbearing/day-neutral types for scattered fruit from summer into fall. Plants are productive for about three years before yields decline.
Plant crowns at the correct depth: the base of the crown should sit level with the soil, not buried and not exposed. In the first year, pinch flowers off June-bearing plants to direct energy into root and runner growth. Mulch with straw to keep fruit off the soil and to protect crowns over winter. Renew beds by thinning crowded plants and rooting runners into open space.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Powdery mildew
White or grey powdery coating on leaves — usually starting on older growth in humid conditions or when nights cool.
Improve air circulation by thinning plants. Apply neem oil or potassium bicarbonate spray at first sign. Avoid overhead watering.
Verticillium Wilt
Lower leaves yellow and wilt, often on one side of the plant, with brown streaking in the stem and crown tissue when cut open. Plants are stunted and decline over the season.
Remove and destroy affected plants. Avoid planting in soil that has grown infected tomatoes, peppers, or other susceptible crops. Rotate beds and improve drainage; there is no cure once a plant is infected.
Fungal leaf spot
Brown or purplish spots on the leaves, often ringed with a yellow halo, that spread and merge in warm, humid, or wet weather; heavily spotted leaves yellow and drop early.
Pick off spotted leaves and clear fallen debris to remove overwintering spores. Improve air circulation by thinning, and water at the base so foliage dries quickly. If it persists, apply a copper- or sulfur-based fungicide at the first sign.
Red Stele Root Rot
Stunted plants that wilt despite moist soil. Roots show a rotted core; cutting a root lengthwise reveals a reddish-brown central stele.
Plant only in well-draining soil and avoid waterlogged sites. Remove and destroy infected plants. Replant resistant varieties and rotate to a new bed location.
Slug and Snail Damage
Deroceras reticulatum →Large irregular holes chewed in leaves, with slime trails on foliage and soil.
Hand-pick at night, set beer traps, or apply iron phosphate bait. Remove debris and mulch where they hide.