Strawberries Problems
Fragaria × ananassa
Strawberries are low, spreading perennials that reward rich soil, consistent moisture, and good airflow with a heavy harvest of sweet fruit — but grey mould, slugs, and birds are constant competition for the crop.
All Strawberries Problems
⚠ CriticalStrawberries — Grey Mould (Botrytis) on Strawberry Fruit
A fuzzy grey mould develops on ripening fruit, often starting where berries touch soil, mulch, or each other, spreading rapidly in cool, humid weather.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Powdery Mildew on Strawberry Leaves
A white powdery coating develops on leaf surfaces, sometimes causing leaves to curl upward at the edges, and can affect fruit quality in severe cases.
⚠ CriticalStrawberries — Verticillium Wilt on Strawberry Plants
Older leaves wilt and develop brown, dry margins, with the whole plant declining gradually, especially noticeable during warm, dry periods.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Leaf Spot on Strawberry Plants
Small, circular purple-to-brown spots with pale grey centres scatter across leaves, sometimes merging into larger dead patches.
⚠ CriticalStrawberries — Red Stele Root Rot on Strawberries
Plants wilt and appear stunted, with a bluish-green cast to the foliage before wilting; roots show a reddish core (stele) when cut lengthwise.
⚠ CriticalStrawberries — Anthracnose Crown Rot on Strawberries
The crown (growing point) turns reddish-brown internally when cut, and the plant wilts suddenly and collapses, often during warm, humid weather.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Slugs and Snails on Strawberry Fruit
Irregular holes with smooth edges appear in ripening fruit, often accompanied by silvery slime trails, with damage typically worse after rain.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Aphids on Strawberry Plants
Clusters of small soft-bodied insects gather on new growth and the underside of leaves, leaving sticky honeydew and potentially spreading viral diseases.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Spider Mites on Strawberry Leaves
Fine yellow-bronze stippling spreads across leaves, with webbing visible in heavier infestations during hot, dry weather.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Tarnished Plant Bug — Catfaced Strawberry Fruit
Fruit develops a deformed, seedy, bumpy area, often at the tip, where the achenes (seeds) cluster abnormally close together in a hardened, distorted patch.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Bird Damage to Ripening Strawberries
Birds peck and consume ripening fruit, sometimes leaving only partially eaten berries scattered through the bed just as fruit reaches peak ripeness.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Poor Fruit Set and Small Strawberries
Plants flower but produce few, small, or oddly-shaped berries rather than the full, plump fruit expected.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Runners Overtaking the Strawberry Bed
The bed becomes densely overcrowded with new plantlets from runners, crowding out the original 'mother' plants and reducing overall fruit production.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Yellowing Leaves — Nitrogen Deficiency in Strawberries
Older leaves turn pale yellow-green uniformly while new growth stays a healthier colour, and overall plant vigour and fruit production decline.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Strawberries
New leaves turn yellow with distinctly green veins, an interveinal chlorosis pattern, most common in alkaline soil.
⚠ CriticalStrawberries — Root Rot and Crown Rot in Strawberries
The plant wilts and declines despite adequate watering, with roots and the crown appearing brown, soft, and discoloured rather than firm and white.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Winter Cold Damage to Strawberry Plants
Leaves and crowns show browning or blackening after severe winter cold, and unprotected plants can be killed outright in harsh winters without snow cover or mulch.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Slow Establishment in Newly Planted Strawberries
Newly planted strawberries grow slowly and produce little fruit in their first season, showing minimal vigour compared to expectations.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Misshapen Strawberries
Fruit develops an irregular, lumpy, or cockscomb-like shape rather than the expected uniform conical form.
⚠ MinorStrawberries — Leaf Scorch on Strawberry Plants
Irregular purple-to-brown blotches merge across leaves, giving a scorched appearance without the distinct spots of typical leaf spot disease.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — Nematodes on Strawberry Roots
Plants show general decline, stunted growth, and reduced vigour despite adequate care, with roots showing lesions or stunted, stubby growth when examined.
⚠ ModerateStrawberries — General Decline From Viral Complex in Strawberries
Plants show a gradual, unexplained decline over multiple seasons — reduced vigour, smaller fruit, and stunted runners — without an obvious single cause.
Strawberries Care Guide
Light, watering, humidity, fertilising, repotting and propagation — everything you need to keep your Strawberries thriving.
Full care guide →See how growers fixed these problems
Browse real Strawberries grow diaries from the community — treatments, timelines, and results.
Browse community diaries →Common Strawberries Questions
Why is my strawberry fruit going mouldy before it ripens?
A fuzzy grey mould develops on ripening fruit, often starting where berries touch soil, mulch, or each other, spreading rapidly in cool, humid weather.… Read the full guide →
Why are my strawberries small and misshapen?
A white powdery coating develops on leaf surfaces, sometimes causing leaves to curl upward at the edges, and can affect fruit quality in severe cases.… Read the full guide →
How do I stop slugs and birds from eating my strawberries?
Older leaves wilt and develop brown, dry margins, with the whole plant declining gradually, especially noticeable during warm, dry periods.… Read the full guide →
Why are my strawberry leaves turning yellow?
Small, circular purple-to-brown spots with pale grey centres scatter across leaves, sometimes merging into larger dead patches.… Read the full guide →
