The best methods for dealing with gray mold

Fungal disease - gray rot affects not only the berries, but also the bush. During rainy and wet weather, this disease can destroy most of the crop. The spores of the fungus that excite this type of disease are in the ground and are not afraid of low temperatures and drought.

External signs of the disease on strawberry bushes

The first sign of the appearance of this disease is the appearance on the berries dark, slightly depressed spots.

In place of the spots, fetal tissue softens and becomes sluggish and watery. The fruit loses its inherent aroma, characteristic color and taste. In a short period of time, the spots spread, and a gray coating appears on them.

The berries rot and thereby spread spores, infecting nearby healthy bushes in the garden. This disease can appear not only during the fruiting period, but also during the flowering period, affecting the flowers. The greatest danger this disease is during storage.

Causes of rot and ways of spreading the fungus

Spores of a fungal infection are constantly in the air and ground, but for the spread of this disease, conditions are necessary:

1. Wrong site selection for planting. The strawberry bed should be in direct sunlight and well ventilated. In poorly ventilated beds, the spores of this disease develop quite rapidly;
2. Too thick landing. Growing up, strawberry bushes form a shadow, which is why the ground under them is enough and does not warm up, and there is also not enough air access. In this case, to eliminate this problem, strawberries must be planted;
3. Excessive humidity... During the period of rains or heavy watering, high humidity is formed, which is the cause of the spread of the fungus. Loosening the soil and covering the strawberry beds during frequent rains will help avoid contamination;
4. A large number of weed... The presence of a large number of weeds on the bed restricts the access of fresh air and prevents good airflow of the bed. It is necessary to weed the beds in a timely manner;
5. Mechanical damage... Fruits damaged by mechanical means, as well as by slugs and insects, are very quickly infected with this type of fungus.

Ways to deal with gray mold

There are a number of measures and methods to deal with gray rot:

1. Collection of contaminated fruits and their disposal. Fruits are carefully picked and buried far from the place of growth. You cannot throw away infected berries. Fungal spores are carried by the wind and infect healthy plants.
2. With a strong thickening of plants, it is necessary to remove excess leaves and thin out the frequency of bushes... The introduction of ash into the soil under the bushes and pollination of plants. Stop watering temporarily until the topsoil is dry.
3. Feed the bushes with the following solution:
   • water - 10 liters;
   • potassium permanganate - 2 grams;
   • boric acid - 2 grams;
   • iodine - 20 drops.

   When processing, it is necessary to touch the lower surface of the leaves.

4. Necessarily exclude contact of fruits with the ground... To do this, you can mulch with straw or pine needles, tie up bushes using special frames for this purpose.

Fighting gray mold with chemicals

Processing must be carried out three times:

• as soon as the leaves begin to grow;
• after tying buds;
• after the whole crop has been harvested.

It is recommended to carry out the treatment with these drugs:

• "Horus" at temperatures above +3 degrees, it achieves the highest efficiency until high temperatures are established. With the onset of heat, the activity of the drug increases, but the period of action is significantly reduced. Therefore, processing must be carried out at the very beginning of the season.
• Teldor used to protect berries during transportation and storage. Upon contact with the surface, the drug forms a thin film that protects the infectious agent from penetration into the tissues.
• "Switch" prevents the appearance and spread of fungi, suppressing their activity. Promotes better storage of fruits.

The use of folk remedies

To combat gray rot, effective folk remedies are:

• Iodine solution... Dilute 10 drops of iodine in 10 liters of water and spray if a disease is detected and as a preventive measure. Spraying is carried out 1 time in 7 days.
• Mustard solution... Dilute 50 grams of dry mustard powder in 5 liters of hot (not boiling water) water. Insist for two days, strain, dilute with water in a 1: 1 ratio and process strawberries with this solution in spring.

Preventive actions

Preventive measures to prevent disease include:

• Timely removal of weeds in the beds;
• Tillage ash or lime;
• Bushes processing Bordeaux liquid;
• Removing foliage from bushes after harvest. It is necessary to carry out the removal in advance so that new leaves grow on the bushes before the onset of frost;
• Change where strawberries grow every three years;
• Do not leave ripe berries on the bushes;
• Remove diseased berries immediately from the bushes and bury them;
• Mulch the beds with pine needles or dry straw.

Expert advice

To protect strawberries from the appearance of gray rot, experts advise:

• remove the mulch left over from last year and dry foliage, since spores of gray rot persist in them;
• timely fertilization of strawberries helps to strengthen the bushes and disinfect the soil;
• it is not recommended to fertilize with mullein, since it is a favorable breeding ground for the fungus;
• do not apply nitrogen-based fertilizers, as this promotes overgrowth of the bushes. Growing bushes form a shadow, which interferes with full heating and airing of the soil;
• after each watering it is obligatory loosen the soilto prevent stagnation of moisture that promotes the development of fungus;
• preventing disease can help planting between rows of strawberries, onions, or garlic... Their biologically active substances suppress the development of the fungus;
• before flowering, be sure to treat strawberries with special preparations for fungal infection.

In order to protect strawberries from infection with gray rot, it is necessary to create proper conditions - well-heated and ventilated beds. Patient and caring care will reward you with a good harvest of ripe and healthy berries.