What’s Wrong with My Strawberries?
Strawberry plants produce nutritious, aromatic, sweet fruit. They vary in hardiness depending on the cultivar. Wild strawberries are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9 while cultivated strains are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8 as perennials and as annuals in USDA zones 9 and 10. You’ve probably purchased strawberries, put them in the refrigerator, and then a day or two later went to use them only to discover a white film on the strawberries. As mentioned, they are prone to fungal infections that may account for this fuzzy growth. The same thing may happen in your garden-grown berries– a white to grayish fuzz on the berry itself or coating the strawberry leaf. One of the most common fungal diseases of strawberries is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) infects the tissue of strawberry plants and despite the fact that it’s mildew, which we usually associate with wet conditions, this strawberry leaf coating is fostered by dry conditions with moderate humidity and temps between 60 and 80 degrees F. (15-26 C.). Spores are carried by the wind to infect all parts of the berry. Early infection appears as a white powdery coating on the underside of the strawberry leaf. Eventually, the entire underside of the leaf is covered and the leaves curl upward with the appearance of dark round blotches. Powdery mildew also affects the flowers, resulting in malformed fruit. To combat powdery mildew in your berries, place them in a sunny area and space the plants to ensure air circulation. Avoid too much fertilizer and use a slow-release food. If just the leaves seem to be infected, prune out the infected parts and dispose of any plant detritus from around the berries. Also, some strawberries are more resistant to powdery mildew than others. Short-day varieties and those that fruit in May and June are slightly more resistant than day-neutral or ever-bearing varieties. Of course, you may also have to apply a fungicide. Use the least toxic options first, such as neem oil, mixed with 1 ounce (30 mL.) to 1 gallon (4 L.) of water. Spray as soon as symptoms appear, spraying both the upper and underside of the leaves. Don’t spray when temps are over 90 degrees F. (32 C.) and not within two weeks of using sulfur fungicides. Sulfur fungicides may also control the powdery mildew but only as a preventative before symptoms appear. Consult the manufacturer’s directions for the correct ratio and timing.
Other Diseases of Strawberry Plants
Strawberries may be afflicted by other diseases but none of these appear as a white film on the strawberry and include:
Anthracnose Leaf blotch Stem end rot Phytophthora crown rot Verticillium wilt
Strawberry plants with white film may more likely be attributed to angular leaf spot (X. fragariae). The infection produces bacterial ooze under humid conditions. This white film dries on the underside of the leaf. Gray mold may also be responsible for a white film on the plant. Gray mold affects the berries, beginning under the calyx and spreading as fruit touch each other or spores are water splashed onto other fruit. The fruit becomes brown, soft, and watery often covered with a gray or white fuzzy growth.
