Strawberry pests and how to deal with them

About how much pests are active Not every gardener knows how difficult it is to manage strawberries and how much effort it takes to control them. Of course, it's great if you haven't encountered any problems growing this berry in your garden. But as soon as problems arise, it's important to address them promptly.

There are many insects that can live on strawberries, causing various diseases. Pest prevention should be carried out during the growing season. However, many pests can be controlled in real time if identified early.

Strawberry pests and their control (photo)

Nematode

These are worms that rarely reach more than one millimeter in length. When strawberry leaves begin to curl and deform, it's a sure sign that worms have taken up residence. The plant itself becomes brittle, and growths resembling cauliflower appear between the stems. This pest is dangerous because it drains a lot of the strawberry plant's juices, causing it to stop producing fruit. The worm reproduces quickly, so control measures must be taken promptly.

How to treat the plant and carry out prevention:

• For planting, use healthy seedlings. Just before planting, soak them in hot water for ten minutes. Then, to completely kill the worm larvae, soak the seedlings in cold water for 15 minutes.
• Strawberries need to be replanted each year. Moreover, it's best to replant the bushes in the same spot after seven years: the pests that attack this berry live in the soil for a long time;
• When planting, the bushes need to be surrounded by grooves. Lime should be poured into them;
• If you notice a nematode on a plant, it must be dug up and burned immediately;

Strawberry mite

Another dangerous pest Strawberry mite. It lives in the soil but attacks strawberry leaves. Females spend the winter at the base of the petioles. As soon as spring arrives, they begin laying eggs, even though the plant's leaves may not yet have unfurled. The larvae actively feed on the plant's sap. Control of the mite is essential, otherwise it will spread throughout the strawberry planting until it completely destroys the entire planting.

How to treat the plant and carry out prevention:

• Disinfect the plant before planting. Follow the same procedure as for nematode prevention: first, soak the plant in hot water for 10 minutes, then in ice water for 15 minutes;
• Infected bushes should be treated with "Colloidal Sulfur" in the spring. If you can't find it in the store, you can also use "Karbofos";
• Next, wait until the bush blooms and on the tenth day, treat the strawberries with the “Neoron” preparation;
• When the damage is severe, it is better to remove the infected bushes from the area and burn them;

Spider mite

As the name of this strawberry pest and its control methods suggest, a web-like appearance appears on the leaves. The leaves then turn yellow and dry out completely. This pest is perhaps the most obvious, so it's hard to miss its presence.

How to treat the plant and carry out prevention:

• Spray the bushes with Karbofos. It's best to spray after the berries have been picked;
• After the treatment is completed, the plantation must be covered with film for three hours;
• When the mite has affected more than 70 percent of the strawberries, it is better to mow down the bushes as soon as the berries are picked;
• To allow new bushes to form, strawberries should be mown before August 15;

Aphid

A video about strawberry pests and how to control them shows that aphids often infest the plant. They can be successfully controlled using traditional methods alone. Specifically, add three heads of garlic to three liters of ice-cold water. Let the solution steep for a week, then spray the plants with a spray bottle.

Wasps

Strawberries are so sweet and delicious that wasps love them. However, it's easy to distract them by placing jars of sweet compote near your garden beds. It's been proven that sweet compote attracts insects more than garden strawberries.

Birds

Birds are hardly pests; they're harmless and sing beautifully. However, birds can feast on strawberries, leaving gardeners without a harvest. To repel birds, place glass balls (the same kind often used in interior design) around your strawberry patch. The balls reflect light, and birds will peck at them, meaning they won't taste or smell your strawberries.

Yes, strawberry pests There are, but fighting them may not be necessary if you approach the cultivation of this crop correctly.

To ensure that strawberries grow actively and bring a good harvest without causing problems, certain rules should be followed:

1. It is essential to take preventative measures when planting the plant in the ground;
2. Buy plants from nurseries, not from grandmothers;
3. Move the beds every year;
4. Dig out weeds, especially those that can harbor strawberry pests;
5. Plant crops nearby that will repel insects. For example, lupine is often planted for this purpose;