[Janeymiddlewife]

One of the OB's told me this morning after inspecting my strawbs that 50% of them are doomed and won't produce fruit. He reckons it's because the centre of the flower has gone dark and has been frosted. Is he right?

[Aunt Sally]

I didn't know that... but it appears he is correct

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=470

[noshed]

Quite surprising really. They are normally very hardy - have you been molycoddling them?

[Snap Dragon]

Never heard of it.... but it's amazing what you can learn here 

I have flowers on my strawbs so I'll be inspecting them closely this weekend! 

[sunshineband]

Never heard of that either

I only have a few flowers as they are new plants.. they look OK though

I'll have to check the ones at school on Monday 

[Salmo]

I have a feeling that we will find all sorts of things have been affected by these frosts.

A commercial grower locally has had a gang of workers covering and uncovering a 20 acre field of strawberries with fleece every day this week and he would not do that for fun.

Has anybody else had gooseberry fruits turned brown and soft and dropping off?

[kel28]

I was actually looking at some of my flowers today as they have done exactly what is shown in the link. I thought i didn't remember them looking like that last yr. Any ideas what I should do, should I cut the flower off or just leave it and see what happens?

[Trillium]

Just leave it and see what happens. Nature can really surprise sometimes.

I'm sure its the Iceland volcano ash messing up the UK skies and temps this year so be prepared for anything.

[mr Isaccs]

I transplanted a new strawbery patch last year and have an established bed of around 25 plants and was expecting a bumper harvest this year but after reading this post this morning I checked mine and many of the open flowers have the black eye, I'm hoping they will recover and later fuits won't be affected

[Christine]

New one on me, I shall be doing an inspection tomorrow. Learn a new fact every day.

[Irene]

As a relative..Oh heck, not relative, I am a newby, to this site I'm hesitant to be firm with an opinion but on this issue I must concur with your friendly advisor.

Having done many early morning frost watches in Washington State for apple and other fruit orchards the telling signs for frost damage on blossoms is pretty clear.

Today I checked my plum and apple tree blossoms to see what damage, if any, they had received from the recent frost.

Pinch a blossom or two off any plant or plants in an area. If your "heart" is black. brown, anything but a healthy green, it is done. For apple trees etc., there is little you can do. For strawberries and the like pinch off the damaged blossoms and hope for new production.

[Hey Jude]

These 'Old Boys' know a thing or two don't they? - I'm always seeking advice from the OB next door but one to my plot, mind you, he's been working on our site for nearly 70 years so I trust what he says without question! Jude.