Unfortunately, strawberries are pretty big targets for powdery mildew. These pesky fungal spores don’t discriminate—they’ll go after the leaves, the blossoms, and even the berries themselves. The key here is catching the disease early so you can fight back. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your patch healthy.
Spotting Powdery Mildew
Once the outdoor temperatures start hovering around 65°F (18°C), the risk of mildew shoots up. These are the perfect conditions for those annoying spores to wake up and start spreading like wildfire. Sadly, your strawberry plants are often first on the menu.
Catching the signs early is a total game-changer; acting fast is often the only way to save your plants from a grim fate. Keep an eye out for these symptoms:
- A white, flour-like fungal coating on the undersides of the leaves.
- Foliage turning a reddish-purple color, which can eventually fade into brown.
- Leaves starting to curl upward after discoloring and eventually dying off.
- That same white, fuzzy coating appearing directly on the berries.
If the fruit itself gets infected, I’ve got some bad news: the harvest is likely a goner. Underneath that white fuzz, the berries won’t ripen properly—they’ll just rot. If your strawberries have reached this stage, there’s not much left to do but pull the plants and dispose of them.
How to Treat It
If you catch the infection in its early stages, you’ve still got a fighting chance! Just remember: since you’re planning on eating these berries, “chemical warfare” isn’t an option. Your first move should be to prune away all infected parts. Toss them in the trash, though—never put diseased plants in your compost pile, or you’ll just spread the spores around your garden next year.
Next, try a simple milk-and-water spray. Just mix milk and water at a 1:4 ratio in a spray bottle and give the affected plants a generous soak. If you want something a bit stronger, here’s my favorite DIY home remedy:
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- About 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of liquid castile soap (or dish soap)
- A splash of vegetable oil
- 2 liters of water
Mix it all up in a spray bottle and treat your plants every four days. Keep at it until the mildew is completely gone. Whether you use milk, oil, or baking soda, these are all natural, safe ingredients. You’ll find that you don’t really need harsh chemicals to get the job done!
