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Strawberries

katiesorunkekatiesorunke Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg
I've been growing strawberries in a raised bed. This will be my third year & I have a lot of strawberries waiting to ripen but I've discovered a lot have got brown patches on them & have chunks out of them. I'll attach picture. I"m guessing it's some bug which has laid it's eggs under the soil. My question is does this mean all my strawberries will now be ruined and will I have to start again from scratch which will be soul destroying?

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    That looks more like slug damage katie, you would need to check after dark or at dusk to be sure.  The brown bits look like bruising where they have rasped and not liked the flavour
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • katiesorunkekatiesorunke Posts: 4
    Hi there, thanks for your advice. I am a bit niave but I didn't think slugs could get into raised beds. I will check as you suggested. 
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    The usual culprits are slugs, mice and birds. Netting will keep the birds off and might keep the mice out if you make sure there are no gaps they can get through. If you don't want to use slug pellets then manual inspection and removal is the only option.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    There is almost nowhere they won't go katie but they can't swim!  I have them abseiling into my hanging baskets and attacking the strawberries in raised beds despite precautions.  I keep a few strawberries in a trough with a moat to deter them but I have decided mice can swim. Hey ho, I just live with my wildlife and take what I can  :D 

    Hope you can save enough to enjoy!
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • katiesorunkekatiesorunke Posts: 4
    Ok thanks so much, you're the second person to suggest slugs which although I'm not happy about,that would be any easier thing to remedy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'm losing about 30% of my (netted) strawberries to slugs/snails and they look exactly like yours.
    I don't like to use them but I've put down pellets which has helped - there are lots and lots of empty snail shells.
    Next year I'll get nematodes

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Yup slugs, We're going out each time after rain (HA HA HA HA) or after watering and collecting them, I also use pellets to try and catch any that are hiding from me. I have to many strawberries to protect from birds, but so far.. they have not eaten any.
  • katiesorunkekatiesorunke Posts: 4
    Thank you all for your help.x
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