By Blake Jackson
Successful strawberry production begins with selecting healthy plants and providing proper care from planting through the growing season.
According to Kathy Demchak, Senior Associate at Penn State Extension, strawberry propagation often starts with mother plants grown in fields or nurseries. Runner tips are collected, rooted in plug trays with soilless media, and placed under mist conditions for several weeks before becoming transplant-ready plants.
Although plug production takes only about four to six weeks, the warm and humid propagation environment can allow existing diseases on runner tips to develop.
Once planted in fruit production fields, strawberries face additional risks from soil pathogens, insects, and surrounding crops. Taking preventive steps early can help growers establish stronger, healthier plants.
The first step is inspecting plants before planting. Weak plants should be examined by cutting through the crown to look for internal discoloration. Healthy crowns should appear completely white.
Reddish, brown, or darkened tissue may indicate diseases such as anthracnose crown rot, Phytophthora crown rot, or Neopestalotiopsis. Since these diseases can look similar, growers should consider additional symptoms and seek confirmation from suppliers, extension specialists, or diagnostic laboratories.
Before planting, growers should prepare beds by thoroughly pre-wetting the soil several days in advance. This allows excess moisture to drain while creating ideal conditions for root establishment. It is also recommended to order extra plants so unhealthy ones can be removed instead of being forced into the field.
Proper planting depth is essential. Strawberry crowns should be positioned at soil level with firm contact between roots and soil. Plants set too shallow may suffer from drying roots, while plants planted too deeply can experience crown rot.
Before or immediately after planting, remove dead leaves and runners, and inspect plants for dark lesions that may indicate disease. Maintaining proper irrigation and protecting plants from deer are also important during fall establishment.
Fungicide programs may be necessary when disease risks are high. Products should be selected based on the suspected pathogen, crop conditions, and resistance management guidelines.
Rotating fungicide groups and following label instructions help reduce the chance of resistant disease development.
By combining careful plant selection, proper planting practices, disease monitoring, and timely management, growers can improve strawberry plant survival and support productive future harvests.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables