Strawberries are a popular crop for the home gardener, offering flavor that store-bought varieties often lack. These soft-fruited plants are highly susceptible to damage from pests, wildlife, weather, and pathogens. Implementing preventative measures throughout the growing season is the most effective approach to ensuring a bountiful and high-quality harvest.
Protecting Berries from Pests and Wildlife
Physical exclusion is the most reliable defense against mobile threats like birds and small mammals, which target ripening fruit. Erecting a simple frame covered in fine-mesh bird netting or chicken wire cages immediately after the first berries begin to blush red will prevent wildlife from accessing the crop. The mesh size must be small enough to block hungry beaks without posing an entanglement risk to the birds themselves. For burrowing animals like rabbits and squirrels, ensure the barrier extends several inches below the soil line to block tunneling access.
Ground-level threats like slugs and crawling insects require different strategies focusing on creating a protective barrier and physical disruption. Slugs, which thrive in moist environments, can be effectively managed with sunken beer traps, where the yeast attracts the pests, or by applying copper tape around the bed perimeter. Copper creates a small electrical charge when contacted by slug slime, causing them to retreat.
Against common garden insects, applying a light dusting of food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) around the plant base is effective. This powder works mechanically; its microscopic sharp edges abrade the exoskeletons of soft-bodied pests, causing fatal dehydration. DE must be reapplied after rain or heavy watering to maintain efficacy against pests like aphids and mites. Regular, daily inspection of the plants and barriers is also necessary to catch any breaches or developing pest issues early.
Safeguarding Against Environmental Stressors
Protecting strawberry plants from frost is important, especially during the vulnerable flowering period. The open blossoms are highly sensitive to spring frost, with injury often occurring when temperatures drop below 30°F (-1.1°C). Gardeners can use floating row covers, which are light fabric sheets that trap heat and insulate the plants. For severe cold events, commercial growers sometimes employ overhead irrigation, where the continuous application of water releases latent heat as it freezes, insulating the plant tissue.
During the summer months, prolonged temperatures exceeding 85°F can cause heat stress and sun scald on the fruit. Providing temporary relief with a 50% to 65% shade cloth during extreme heat waves helps moderate the microclimate around the plants. Consistent moisture management is also essential for protecting the root system and plant health.
Drip irrigation systems are preferred over overhead sprinklers because they deliver water directly to the root zone without wetting the foliage or fruit. Keeping plant surfaces dry reduces the humidity that encourages fungal development. Applying a generous layer of organic mulch, such as clean straw or pine needles, helps regulate soil temperature and conserves moisture. The mulch also physically lifts developing berries off the damp soil, preventing direct contact that can lead to rot.
Managing Fungal Diseases and Rot
Fungal diseases, especially gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), are responsible for significant crop loss and thrive in cool, damp, and humid conditions. The first line of defense is rigorous garden sanitation, which involves immediately removing and destroying any infected leaves, old fruit, or plant debris. Since fungal spores can overwinter on this material, a thorough cleanup prevents the pathogen from establishing itself in the next growing season.
Improving air circulation around the plants helps reduce humidity, which is a key trigger for fungal growth. This can be achieved by ensuring proper spacing between plants and periodically pruning away older, dense foliage to allow better air movement. Increased airflow helps leaves and fruit dry quickly after rain or irrigation, making the environment less hospitable to spores.
If cultural controls prove insufficient, organic fungicides can be used as a preventative measure, particularly during bloom when the plant is most vulnerable to infection. Products containing potassium bicarbonate or neem oil can be applied before a suspected outbreak to inhibit spore germination. Finally, harvesting the fruit promptly as soon as it fully ripens prevents the development of overripe, decaying berries, which are an open invitation for rot to spread throughout the patch.