By Blake Jackson
While many Pennsylvania strawberry growers are seeing promising growth this spring, some are experiencing less favorable results.
Understanding the potential causes involves considering the plants' condition last fall, the specific varieties planted, and the winter protection methods used.
Poor fall growth due to diseases like Neopestalotiopsis, anthracnose crown rot, Phytophthora crown rot, and angular leaf spot can still impact spring development.
Powdery mildew, common in certain varieties, serves as another clue, though variety alone isn't a definitive diagnostic tool.
If plants thrived last fall but appear weak now, the past "normal" winter with colder temperatures necessitates evaluating winter protection.
Insufficient row covers or straw can lead to crown injury, showing as discoloration or corkiness, and leaf desiccation, characterized by consistently dry, brown, and crispy leaf edges across the planting. Desiccation can occur even with adequate watering if the ground is frozen, preventing root water uptake.
In matted-row systems, a slow spring start is typical in cool soil. However, winter injury and common diseases like Botrytis and Phomopsis are primary concerns in both matted-row and plasticulture plantings of matted-row varieties.
For accurate diagnosis, cutting through several plant crowns lengthwise is recommended, often revealing more than a crosswise cut.
Photo Credit: pexels-pixabay
Categories: Pennsylvania, General