People who grow strawberries often encounter the fact that the berries dry out and do not have time to ripen. It is recommended to understand in advance why strawberries do not turn red and dry, and also familiarize yourself with ways to eliminate this problem.
Causes of strawberries drying out and ways to combat them
There are several main reasons why strawberries can dry out.
Weather
Often problems when growing strawberries arise due to unfavorable weather conditions. The development of planted berries may deteriorate due to:
- high temperature;
- drought;
- night frosts;
- high levels of humidity and frequent rain.
All of these factors negatively affect the growth and fruiting of planted strawberries. However, the most dangerous thing is a hot summer without rain, because of which the soil quickly dries out. In drought conditions, the bushes lack moisture and quickly dry out. To prevent this from happening, you will have to install a sprinkler irrigation system 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 outside temperature reaches 30-35 degrees. During such severe droughts, the plant dies due to moisture deficiency.
Therefore, when growing strawberries, you need 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 consumed for each bush.
Fungal diseases
Strawberry bushes often dry out in the garden due to fungal diseases. There are several common diseases that you need to familiarize yourself with in more detail.
Gray rot
A dangerous disease that appears not only on strawberries, but also on other plants. The development of gray rot is indicated by brown spots on the leaves, the size of which gradually increases. Over time, the spotting spreads to the fruits, which begin to rot. Rotten berries constantly suck the juice from the plant, which leads to yellowing of the leaves.
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 neighboring healthy 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 leaves. Then the infected leaves will begin to dry out and curl into a tube.
Powdery mildew appears in 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 solution of whey.
Verticillium wilt
This pathology is considered the most dangerous fungal disease, which leads to wilting of strawberry bushes. Symptoms of wilting do not appear immediately. First, the leaves located at the bottom of the stem are affected. Brown spots appear on them, which over time completely cover the surface of the leaves. Gradually, the spotting spreads to the rest of the plant, after which it dries out.
Even if the disease is detected at an early stage of development, it will not be possible to save the infected bushes. They will have to be dug up and burned so that the disease does not infect other strawberry seedlings.
Late blight
It is quite easy to notice late blight on a bush, 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 using 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 strawberries drying out, but also some pests.
Nematode
A common pest that causes strawberries to wilt is the nematode. It is a thin and transparent worm that has an oblong and cylindrical shape. Once on the leaves of the plants, they begin to feed on the sap, which leads to the drying out of the bushes.
To clean the bushes from nematodes, you need to spray them with a solution of copper sulfate. The bushes are also 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 notice with the naked eye. Most often, strawberry mites are noticed after strawberries turn yellow. These pests, like nematodes, feed on plant sap. The presence of strawberry mites is indicated by the following signs:
- Slow development of seedlings. The appearance of insects negatively affects the growth of bushes.
- Raid. An oily coating with a yellowish tint appears on the affected leaves.
Karbofos is considered the most effective anti-tick remedy. The bushes are sprayed with it at least twice a week.
Strawberry-raspberry weevil
Bushes attacked by the weevil quickly dry out 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, add two bars of soap to 3 liters of water.
What to do if the reason is not established?
Sometimes people cannot determine the exact reason for the yellowing of planted strawberries. In this case, you will have to transplant all the yellowed seedlings to a new place and observe them.If the yellowness disappears over time, it means that there were not enough nutrients in the soil.
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 become dry.
- Feeding. In order for the seedlings to get sick less often and be stronger, it is necessary to periodically apply fertilizing. The bushes are fed 2-3 times a season 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 strawberries turning yellow during cultivation. To get rid of this problem and prevent its occurrence, you need to familiarize yourself with the main causes of drying out bushes and methods for eliminating them.
