How to treat strawberries against diseases
Gardeners are often faced with the problem of strawberry disease. Most often these are fungal diseases, which are dangerous because they can spread to other crops, significantly reduce yields and cause plant death. Before treating strawberries for diseases, you need to have an accurate idea of what treatment will be required. To do this, you need to recognize the disease in time and take the right measures.
There are quite a lot of strawberry diseases, but gardeners most often encounter only the most common of them. Everyone knows how gray rot or powdery mildew manifests itself, but if there is insufficient awareness, strawberries can become seriously ill without showing obvious signs. Therefore, knowledge of diseases and their manifestations will help to recognize them in time and save the plant.
Chemical methods of combating strawberry diseases
The main carriers of strawberry diseases are insects. But they themselves are also capable of harming plants, reducing or destroying yields. Here are some of the main pests of strawberries:
- Strawberry whitefly. It is a small insect up to 1.5 mm. It is white in color and looks like a small butterfly. The wings have a waxy coating. They settle on the underside of leaves, as they do not tolerate sunlight well. There they lay eggs, from which six-legged oval larvae are formed, feeding on nutrients from the leaves. Later, adults emerge from the cocoon. In one season, strawberries can be affected by more than one generation of such pests.
To prevent the appearance of insects, the plant is treated with pesticides in several stages. The first treatment must be carried out before the flowers form. After harvesting, strawberries also need processing. Growing strawberries on mulch film will protect the plants from warflies. - Bronzovka shaggy. A small black insect that tolerates winter well by burrowing into the ground. The greatest damage to strawberries occurs in May-June, when flowers begin to appear. The insect feeds on young leaves and flowers, causing irreparable damage to plants. The insect does not spend all its time on strawberries; its life is connected with the soil. This is why it can be difficult to get rid of.
Tilling the soil, digging the soil and removing the larvae will help get rid of this pest. Direct use of chemicals is possible only if their use is permitted during the flowering period. These include the insecticide Calypso. - Green peach aphid. The pest settles on petioles and peduncles, multiplies quickly and contributes to the death of plants. Pest control must be done using chemical means.
- Strawberry leaf beetle. A small beetle up to 4 mm brown in color. It feeds on strawberry leaves. Larvae are deposited on the underside of the leaf, which also feed on the leaves. The pest causes severe damage to plants. Strawberry leaves dry out, the fruits become thin and deformed. Chemicals are used directly when insects appear. The main methods of combating them remain agrotechnical.
- Strawberry nematode. It is a roundworm up to 1 mm. Nematodes live in the leaves, but harm buds, flowers and ovaries. The bushes stop growing and sometimes lose their ability to bear fruit. Since nematodes stay in the soil for a long time, in order to get rid of them it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology. Treating the soil with chemicals will help remove all nematodes. Different varieties of strawberries have different resistance to this pest.
- Weevil. There are two types: leaf and strawberry. Leaf beetles attack leaf blades. Eggs are laid in the soil, and the larvae feed on plant roots. With a small number of these insects, they are not able to cause significant harm to strawberries. Chemicals will help get rid of them. The strawberry weevil causes more damage. It eats up the pedicels and lays larvae in the bud, which eat all the contents.
- Tick. Small pest up to 0.2 mm. It cannot be detected with the naked eye, but it can cause considerable harm to plants. Strawberry bushes slow down and bear less fruit. Ticks feed on leaves, so yellow, wrinkled or fallen leaves will indicate their presence. Spider mites entangle the bush with cobwebs, causing the plant to dry out.
- Medvedka. Brown beetle with teeth for better movement in the soil. They feed mainly on roots. There are several chemicals available to kill the pest.
- Slug. Small pests that appear after sunset. They eat the fruits and sometimes damage the leaves. The affected areas are treated with chemicals in compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. It is recommended to control soil moisture to avoid their reappearance.
Fungicides to combat strawberry diseases
Treatment with fungicides will help prevent or cure plants from fungal diseases. At the same time, they do not damage the plant itself and do not affect its properties. Fungicides can be applied to the soil, to treat plants, or against pathogens. Fungicides are effective against spotting, powdery mildew and other diseases.
For prevention, the product is used from the beginning of leaf growth, then every 10 days until flowering begins. At the moment of fruit formation, spraying is stopped until harvest. After which the treatment is carried out again to prevent the disease the next year. Frequently used drugs: HOM, Bordeaux mixture, Skor, Ridomil.
The main part of the drugs does not harm animals and humans, but it is recommended to take precautions. Fungicides for controlling strawberry diseases have several hazard classes depending on their purpose. Before using medications, you must wear closed shoes and clothing and use a mask and gloves. Carefully follow the instructions and proportions so as not to harm the plants.
The soil is treated with preventive mixtures before planting. In this case, it will prevent the appearance of fungus and protect the seedlings. The most effective way to treat plants is to spray them.
How and how to treat strawberry diseases
Depending on the disease, the plant needs proper treatment that will help it overcome the disease and return to normal development. How and how to treat strawberry diseases?
There are various drugs aimed at specific pests or diseases.
For the destruction of ticks, the following drugs are used: Aktofit, Fitoverm, Apollo. Carry out two treatments per season following the instructions. Apply 0.3-0.4 liters per hectare.
For weevils and leaf beetles, use: Actellik. The drug destroys many known pests, including aphids. Apply twice per season at 0.6 liters per hectare.
Karbofos copes well with pests such as aphids, beetles, weevils, moths, and mites. The drug is used a month before harvest. To prepare the solution you need 8 liters of water and 60 g of the drug. 10 strawberry bushes require 10 liters of solution.
Metaldehyde fights slugs. Use 4 granules per square meter, scattering onto the soil.
Cuproxat fights well against spotting, powdery mildew and rot. You can also use Topaz or Bileton.
All diseased strawberry leaves must be removed and burned. To help the plant grow new leaves, you can water them with biostimulants.
Protecting strawberries from diseases
To protect strawberries from various diseases, it is necessary to properly till the soil and apply fertilizers before planting. Planting material must be of high quality to avoid many diseases. Timely weed control will prevent the proliferation of pests. Along with fertilizing, it is necessary to use chemicals to protect against the most common pests and diseases. To destroy mites and fungal diseases, dry leaves remaining after winter are removed and the plants are treated with appropriate substances.
When the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to immediately take measures to preserve the plant. The more time the disease progresses, the more likely it is that it will affect the yield and the general condition of the bush itself. After harvesting, preventive treatment is also carried out.
Viral diseases are practically untreatable. The most effective way to prevent their further development is to remove the damaged plant. Bacteria can be stopped, but a complete cure is still difficult to achieve. Fungal diseases are the most common and most treatable. Preventive measures are justified in relation to plants, because treatment may take more time and money. It is best if the plant already has immunity to most common diseases. Varieties that are more resistant to disease are constantly being created. If the seedlings are of poor quality, then most often they are infected with diseases.
Immunity can be strengthened by using various microfertilizers and growth regulators. They increase resistance to diseases, and if the plant does get sick, they will help to recover from the disease.