Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi
I have a problem with my strawberries. The leaves are curling and yellowing a bit and the whole plants that are affected don't seem to be producing new roots. They have fruit on but it is on the small side and the whole plants look really miserable. Is this a virus of some type or is there hope for my strawberry beds?

Thanks for any input.

Jim

Hi Jimbo
I was just about to post a strawberry problem when I spotted yours, so I thought I’d join in, if that’s OK?
I only bought my potted strawberry last Sunday – it’s a fragaria ostara, perpetual-fruiting variety, with two flowers on – and put it on a sunny-in-the-mornings window ledge, inside.
It looked a bit droopy, but I put that down to it’s not having been well cared for in the greengrocer’s where I bought it from, and thought it would perk up with a drink or two. (Don’t we all?) The medium it’s in is fast-draining, as when I apply water it drips out the bottom of the pot almost straight away, so I stood it in a saucer.
I now realise it wasn’t thirsty, it’s poorly. The larger leaves are curling inwards, even though the “soil” is moist, and I spotted this morning that many of the leaves had a sort of white fungus or dusty stuff on them, plus the dreaded greenfly, or similar.
As it only has a couple of dozen leaves, I have given it a bed bath, and carefully wiped each of the leaves with damp kitchen towel to remove both white stuff and bugs.
Will this do the trick, or does it need further treatment or – fingers firmly crossed, I hope not – is it destined for the bin?
As a first time gardener of any sort, with only a balcony & the window ledges to play with, I have no knowledge to draw on, so I am completely in the hands of experts such as populate this forum to keep me from starvation.

ive had leaves curl through getting scorched in the sun due to the hot weather recently, try googling strawberry pests and dieases as there are a few that effect straws, mine seem alright and pray they stay that way as i have 130 strawberry plants

I think mine is a bit more serious than scorching unfortunately percy. I have 3 beds of 34 plants, virtually all seem affected. A couple of the strawberries on the plants have ripened and they taste fine but the fruit are less than half their normal size. I will try googling thanks.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestp...2004/QIC64.pdf

Have a look at this ?

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British by birth
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Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

Try repotting in fresh compost in a larger pot if the one they're in is a bit on the small side.

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If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill it