After years of unsuccesfully growing strawberries in troughs I invested in raised wooden beds which are standing on decking about a metre above a disused pond. I have grown many other fruits and veg in containers on the decking with success. I bought new strawberry plants and growing medium and waited for my first crop. 2024 was a wet year and the strawbs developed botritis. In autumn I trimmed them down and thinned them out. Everyone told me all would be well - but it isn't at all. Despite a dryish year the disease is still there in most of the plants with the result that I've had a wonderful harvest of diseased fruit. I consulted the head gardener at my local garden centre who was a bit baffled and said I should do as I did last year - cut them down and thin them out. She said there was no need to replace the growing medium.
There are different varieties and some have wonderful-looking big berries on them, but all mouldy.
Did I buy a faulty batch of plant? Is the soil the problem? Should I just give up?
There are different varieties and some have wonderful-looking big berries on them, but all mouldy.
Did I buy a faulty batch of plant? Is the soil the problem? Should I just give up?
