Troubleshooting
Strawberries problems — and how to fix them
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Grey mould (botrytis)
Wet conditions during fruiting; improve air movement and remove infected fruit.
Red-cored fruit
Likely a soil-borne disease; rotate the planting site.
Hollow misshapen berries
Poor pollination — encourage bees and avoid spraying during flowering.
Slugs and snails
Major pest of ripening fruit; use straw mulch and slug barriers.
Yellow leaves
Nitrogen or iron deficiency, or compacted soggy soil.
Prevent strawberries problems before they start
Most strawberries issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Strawberries problems — FAQ
Why is my strawberries grey mould (botrytis)?
Wet conditions during fruiting; improve air movement and remove infected fruit.
Why is my strawberries red-cored fruit?
Likely a soil-borne disease; rotate the planting site.
Why is my strawberries hollow misshapen berries?
Poor pollination — encourage bees and avoid spraying during flowering.
Why is my strawberries slugs and snails?
Major pest of ripening fruit; use straw mulch and slug barriers.
Why is my strawberries yellow leaves?
Nitrogen or iron deficiency, or compacted soggy soil.