What to Do With Wilted Strawberries

Verticillium Wilt

• Verticillium wilt fungi are introduced to garden soil by infected seeds, tools and the roots of strawberry transplants. Soil temperatures between 53 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit promote germination and spread of verticillium wilt fungus spores. In addition, this disease is more prevalent on soils that are routinely fertilized with high amounts of nitrogen. Young strawberry plants begin to display symptoms of the disease when they produce runners. Older plants exhibit verticillium wilt right before harvest.

Symptoms

• Strawberry plants infected with verticillium wilt display symptoms such as drooping, dried-out, reddish discoloration and wilting leaves. Any new foliage that is produced appears stunted, curled and deformed. Gardeners may notice blackish or blue streaks on runners. The crown or root system of the plant may turn brown. A mild infection in a strawberry crop may kill off the mother plant. However, severe infections will kill off numerous plants and reduce strawberry yields.

Wilted Strawberries

• All plants that show signs of the disease must be removed from the garden area. Burn or throw away the affected strawberry plants. Avoid composting them because this will contaminate other areas of the yard. Gardeners can replant the area with strawberry varieties that are not susceptible to verticillium wilt. Strawberry plants, such as Tennessee Beauty, Sunrise, Blakemore, Catskill, Robinson, Allstar, Delite, Earliglow, Guardian, Redchief and Surecrop, resist the disease. Check the label to ensure that the strawberry plant you are purchasing is resistant to verticillium wilt.

Solarization

• Because there are no fungicides on the market to treat the disease, gardeners can smother the fungal spores with solarization during the hottest months of the year. To treat an area, spread a tarp over the soil after removing all wilted or infected strawberry plants. Watering the area helps conduct enough heat to kill fungal spores so apply it to a depth of 12 inches. Lay a transparent tarp over the area and allow the soil temperatures to reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit for four to six weeks before removing it.