It has been raining daily for about a week and a half. The extremely wet weather has begun to take its toll on the garden. Today I went out to check on the ripening
Earliglow strawberries. What I found was this. Some looked alright. Just under-ripe, but with more rains in the forecast...
But as you can see of the berries are showing signs of rot. From what I could find online, it looks like these have leather rot directly related to the wet weather. The berries aren't getting a chance to dry off from day to day. We've had very little sunshine between the back to back storms. Heavy straw mulching is supposed to help prevent this condition, but the daily downpours are winning this battle.
Now with a few more days of rain still left in the forecast, I'm really worried about the other strawberries out there. Where is the sunshine?
But as you can see of the berries are showing signs of rot. From what I could find online, it looks like these have leather rot directly related to the wet weather. The berries aren't getting a chance to dry off from day to day. We've had very little sunshine between the back to back storms. Heavy straw mulching is supposed to help prevent this condition, but the daily downpours are winning this battle.
Now with a few more days of rain still left in the forecast, I'm really worried about the other strawberries out there. Where is the sunshine?
Don't look at me, I didn't take your sunshine. I don't know who has it, but it sure isn't at my garden! At least I'm not getting saturated with rain, it's just cold and dreary.
ReplyDeleteThings always seem to even out in the end. Kind of a scary thought in this instance. It's cold and extremely wet now. So that would mean really hot temperatures and extreme drought is on the way. ;)
ReplyDeleteOn a brighter note, it looks like there is no rain in the forecast for Thursday! I'll be wishing everyone a sunny and pleasant forecast.
I just checked my old strawberry bed next door. The leaves on the plants are rusting due to the weather. I'm anxious to see how the plants and weeds are at the plots today. I'm sure the weeds are doing well.
ReplyDeleteI spoke too soon. It's pouring rain now :-(
ReplyDeleteI hope it dries out so your strawberries flourish. I know you have a lot of time invested in them. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. It won't be right now though. A storm is brewing as I type.
ReplyDeleteThe little sunshine we are getting is good, but so hot it's almost unbearable...we are getting good doses of rain, so I can't really complain.
ReplyDeleteHave all of your strawberries had that problem? Do you have any other varieties planted? This is our first year for getting any Earliglow berries (we planted them at the end of last season), and our berries are doing great! We haven't had any problems with rot...only with birds and slugs.
ReplyDeleteNow that the rain marathon has stopped the latest berries are in much better shape. No rotten, soft spots. The birds seem to like them as well. Quite a few of them are getting pecked to pieces once they are close to ripening. I placed some pieces of straw over the ones that are turning red, and so far it's working.
ReplyDeleteI also have a mixed plot with Sparkle, Sequoia, and Fort Laramie strawberries in it. They are looking really great, but they have the benefit of being in a raised bed. I think I'm going to use two of my 3'x3' beds for strawberries instead of just one. We can never get enough strawberries.