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Very worried

LunarJimLunarJim Posts: 56
in Problem solving
We planted some strawberries a couple of months ago in a large container in soil that came in bulk from an online.  The strawberries have brown leaves and I am worried it is verticillium wilt.

We have lots more of this earth that we got in bulk that we have spread around the garden, some new geraniums also have brown leaves at the bottom and a cornflower also looks like it has issues.  On the other hand we have a sambucus (frequently attacked by verticillium wilt according to RHS) that looks fine.  Is it likely that we have the soil is an issue, or do strawberries frequently do this?

Advice very much appreciated.





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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Is your soil very dry?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LunarJimLunarJim Posts: 56
    I have been watering the strawberries every day when it doesn't rain but as we face south it is very hot during the day.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    They just look very thirsty to me and the soil looks dust dry.

    Do you just give a sprinkle/dribble?  I think a good soaking every evening would help so they can absorb all the mositure by night without drying sun evaporating it all.  Once you have the soil thoroughly soaked and dampened, pack on some straw or wood chips to keep the strawberries up off the soil and also help reduce evaporation.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LunarJimLunarJim Posts: 56
    Thanks for the info.  I tend to mist them as I want to avoid blasting soil away.  I've put pictures of the geranium and cornflower (grows like a weed here) at the bottom.  I would have thought the soil was heated up to kill everything surely?  No weeds growing from the new soil.  Are there other things to look for with vericillium wilt?  The roots of the dead strawberry plant look normal.


  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Mist isn't enough.it could actually make it worse as the roots will come to the surface to get the moisture and then get baked.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Misting is utterly inadequate outside but does work for some houseplants.  Your plants need good moisture at their roots so either use a srinkler attachment on the end of a hose and set on a timer or else get a good spray gun with a choice of settings and use the "shower" setting and give each plant a good soaking.   

    Since the soil is so very dry, you're probably better off with the sprinkler on a timer.   30 minutes minimum as it will fall gently and needs time to saok in below the surface so the roots head downwrads where they should be finding moisture and not frying up top.   repeat daily till they perk up and then as needed during dry spells.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LunarJimLunarJim Posts: 56
    I do use a spray gun with about eight settings, just on misting when I'm spraying quite close to a plant.  You're right in that the roots are dry of a strawberry plant we have dug up, it rained a lot here yesterday so it really is tricky watering things enough.

    Can I be sure that this isn't verticillium wilt?  We have another 900kg of soil from the same online supplier that we were planning on using in the garden.

    Thanks for all advice.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    edited June 2019
    Looking at the sorry state of your strawberries and the dry soil that they sit in I'm afraid you forgot the meaning of straw in the word strawberry. ;)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I don't think it's verticulum wilt and, in any case, it wouldn't have acted so fast.  

    We all agree your plants and soil are parched so change to shower on your gun and be prepared to stand there for some time.   Start at one end of the bed and give each plant a minimum of 15 seconds each and then, when you get to the end, repeat immediately.  Longer for shrubs.

    Repeat again tomorrow and the next day and again as needed.    Strawberries need lots of moisture to keep their leaves healthy and then to allow the fruits to swell.   They should perk up after just one or two good drinks but don't get complacent.  Keep at it till their bed is thoroughly moistened and maintain it so as long as they're fruiting.

    Don't forget to give them a mulch of straw!  It protects the fruit from soil splash, gets them up in the sun to ripen and will make it harder for pests like slugs to start chomping on your harvest.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=255 info on VW.

      
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LunarJimLunarJim Posts: 56
    Thanks so much for the reassurance about the fungus and watering info.  I bought a lot of new plants this spring and have been watering them, I thought a south facing garden was supposed to be a great thing but we struggle with too much bare soil I guess.

    I might try this as an alternative to straw unless somebody thinks it no good:


    I can use it round the new plants as well.
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