Gray rot on strawberries: causes of disease and methods of struggle

Unfortunately, few plant varieties, particularly berries, are resistant to gray rot.This disease is a huge risk for every gardener to be left without a strawberry crop. That is why everyone who planted this bush should have information about berry infections, as well as effective treatments for its ailments.

Gray mold is a fungal disease that affects not only fruit, but also strawberry bush as a whole. This is a rather peculiar affliction that cannot be confused with another infection. The manifestation of infection:

• the occurrence of brown spots that are able to grow rapidly;
• the formation of a smoky plaque consisting of small spores;
• the transformation of the fruit into a watery and unusable berry;
• the formation of dry berries, which later becomes a hard gray lump.

Spores of the fungus carry the wind, insects, moisture. Even the most careful care can not insure the plant from this disease. The most favorable conditions for the spread of infection gray mold:

• summer with heavy rains;
• large amounts of dew;
• decrease in air temperature to 15 degrees;
• high humidity;
• excessive irrigation;
• the presence of weeds on the plantation with strawberries;
• the presence of infected plants on the territory;
• large dimensions of foliage in a bush and their large number.

In order to detect gray rot in time, it is necessary to carefully examine the berries. The lesions are usually located on the back of the fruit.

After identifying the infection on the berry bush, it is urgent to begin to fight the disease. There are many effective chemicals for this. To do the first spraying is in the initial stages of flowering. If the situation is difficult, then the procedure must be repeated every 5-7 days until the berries are picked. If strawberries are grown in open ground, then such work is carried out up to four times, in a protected area - two times less.

For chemical plant protection it is worth choosing the right drug. The following are considered the most sought-after remedies.

1. "Alirin-B". Use this drug to eliminate gray rot can be in different phases of plant growth. Strawberry re-irrigation should be done 14 days after the initial work. To start processing, you will need to dilute 1-2 tablets per liter of water. After intensive mixing, you can spray the plant. The effect is observed after the first use, it is able to quickly destroy the infection. It is recommended to handle strawberries only in dry weather.
2. "Switch". This is an effective substance that allows you to save the strawberry plantation not only from gray rot, but also from other dangerous diseases. Spraying is carried out in the same way as the previous preparation. According to the advice of experienced gardeners it is necessary to dilute ten grams of the drug in five liters of water and apply it when spraying.
3. "Horus" is an effective fungicide. It is used at the beginning of the season. The tool has anti-resistant capabilities, the plant quickly absorbs it, and the rain does not wash away. This drug is effective and cost-effective.

Not every gardener wants to use a chemical to overcome gray color rot on a strawberry plant. In this situation, it is advisable to use proven national methods in the fight against infection. To get rid of fungal spores can be treated with ordinary iodine bushes. This drug is a simple and widely available substance that can treat a berry bush at an early stage of the disease. Preparation of the solution:

• 15 drops of iodine;
• 0, 2 liters of whey;
• 10 liters of warm water.

Spraying strawberries with this solution can be carried out at the beginning of flowering in the amount of three times. But when the formation of the fruit begins, the processing should stop. Iodine, which is combined with dairy product, gives an excellent effect, which is why it has been used for many years.

One of the proven and safe ways to eradicate gray rot is the use of potassium permanganate. For spraying, it is necessary to dissolve the substance in hot water to form a bright pink liquid. This type of treatment should be applied before the flowering of the plant.

Some summer residents are accustomed to destroy the gray mold fungus using ordinary mustard. To prepare the drug you need to insist 50 grams of powder in 5 liters of hot water for 48 hours. After preparing the tincture, it must be diluted 1 to 1 with water and sprayed in the spring.

Garlic tincture has been proven for years to treat this infection. To make it, you need to cut two cloves of garlic, add water and infuse for seven days. After passing this time, the tincture is diluted in ten liters of water with the addition of a bar of soap. Spraying this substance should be carried out before flowering. Often, in case of diseases of the berries, people use ash to eliminate the problem. To do this, 10 grams of water infused 200 grams of powder.

"Fitosporin" is a biological product, which is used for processing strawberries immediately after planting. It contains the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which effectively protects plants from infection.

Protection of strawberry plantings from smoky plaque and decay can be carried out not only in the fight against a progressive disease, but also in the form of preventive measures. For normal growth and a decent harvest of berries it is necessary to choose the right seat for young plants. In this situation, you should follow these rules:

• the place must be well lit and ventilated;
• there should be no marshes and large trees nearby;
• the site must be promptly cleaned of weeds.

An ideal place for strawberries will be the central part of the site with nutritious and loose soil. Also for the prevention of dangerous diseases it is necessary to get rid of weeds in time. Proper care and the absence of parasitic plants is a guarantee of strong and strong bushes that will resist infections well.

Do not plant strawberries too thick, as this contributes to the rapid spread of various infections. Since the bushes of this plant can have a different diameter, dense beds may form on the beds. So the soil will not be completely warming up, which would entail the absence of the necessary air blowing. In these situations, strawberries need to be planted and thinned, providing it with normal airing.

At the time when the formation of fruits occurs, the aisles should be mulched with a small layer of straw, which should be absolutely clean. With the same purpose, sawdust, needles, which prevent the contact of berries with the soil. Wood ash and lime are a great way to prevent the spread of gray rot. She should priporoshit soil between the bushes. Not far from the dugout, it is recommended to plant garlic, as it contains a lot of phytoncides that can eliminate fungi.

Experienced gardeners advise before flowering strawberry plantation irrigate Bordeaux liquid or "Barrier". At the end of the collection of berries should definitely destroy all the remaining leaves. This event should be held in such a way that young leaves grow on berry bushes before frosts.

Do not forget that changing the place of growth of crops is the best preventive measure, which should be carried out at least once in three years.

Unfortunately, today there are no varieties of strawberries that gray mold does not hit.Climate and growing conditions are the factors that each year the number of diseased shrubs can increase and decrease. The best options to get rid of the disease of garden strawberry gray mold is the choice of varieties that sow early. The fruits of these shrubs are not stale and do not have time to catch the fungus. But even among such plants there are species with a delicate consistency of pulp, which gray rot loves very much.

It is recommended to plant the following types of strawberries that are resistant to fungal disputes:

• "Leningrad later";
• Aliso;
• “Wonderful;
• "Early dense";
• "Talku";
• "Festival daisy";
• "Ducat";
• "Bravo";
• "Fireworks";
• "Bohemia."

Gray rot is a dangerous infection that spreads with great speed and has the ability to completely deprive the gardener of the crop. It is important to ensure proper care of the garden strawberry bush, as well as to ensure that the fruit do not come into contact directly with the ground. To do this, they should ensure the timely maintenance of flower stalks. The main rule in the fight against fungal disease is to provide conditions that are not suitable for the development of gray rot.

Strong strawberry bush less susceptible to the attack of the fungus. Sunlight, good access to air and competent prevention help best in the fight against the disease.

The fact that such a gray rot on strawberries, see the following video.