[sclarke624]

Hi
My Strawberries are going great guns.  I have them in troughs of compost.  Some have gone a bit rotten, i.e brownish fruits and then the drop off.  Could that be because they were laying on the compost.    

I have now put some polysterene under all the fruit.....thought that would be as good as straw in keeping them off the soil.

Thanks

[gobs]

Grey mould, most likely. Keep plants airy and regularly remove and distroy all affected fruit and decaying foliage.

[Trillium]

It's also the fact that the compost is too rich for the fruits. All strawberries should be fed AFTER fruiting to revitalize the plant (not feed fruit). Right now the soil is too rich and holds too much moisture, which then softens the fruit too much and leads to rot. Also, when picking the berries, don't pick after a rainfall or within 2 days of rain. The fruit is too watery and spoils quickly if picked. Let it dry out a few days and you get nicer fruit.

[sclarke624]

thank for replies.

[sawnee]

Thank Trillium you have answered my next thread about why my strawberrys are a bit 'watery' and softer than normal
must be telepathy
As for "they will keep better" :shock:  they dont usually last minutes once 'home'