Content
The centers of strawberries turn black - damage to the plant, which often worries gardeners. Every summer resident strives to get a rich harvest of this tasty and healthy berry, so that it is large and sweet. To do this, you need to properly care for the crop, fulfill all the necessary requirements for cultivation, and if difficulties arise, try to find and eliminate their causes in a timely manner.
The sooner you can see that the central part of the strawberry buds has begun to turn black, the faster you can get rid of the problem
The sooner you can see that the central part of the strawberry buds has begun to turn black, the faster you can get rid of the problem
Why do the centers of strawberries turn black?
Most often, a strawberry flower may turn black in the middle due to unfavorable weather conditions or insect attack. For example, in the last month of spring, the air temperature constantly fluctuates; during the day it can reach quite high levels, and at night frosts often occur. Minus indicators often provoke darkening of strawberry leaves and flowers in their central part. In addition, pests can settle in the middle of the buds, which can also cause dark spots to appear on the inflorescences.
Frost
First of all, a sharp drop in temperature to sub-zero affects the strawberry receptacle. This part is located in the center of the flowers and is considered the most fragile; due to the sudden arrival of frost, it begins to turn black.
Warning! Cold greatly affects yields, reducing them by about 25%.
If the flowers of the remontant strawberry turn black, then you can no longer expect fruit from them. Experienced gardeners advise removing all damaged buds from bushes. It should also be noted that at temperatures below -3 ° C, the ovaries of the plant begin to suffer, and if the frost reaches the root system, then there is a high probability of the death of the entire crop. If the strawberry roots are frozen, the bushes are removed and new seedlings are planted in their place. If only the leaves are damaged, and, as is known, in remontant varieties they can withstand cold temperatures down to -10 ° C, then the plant still has a chance of recovery.
Berries are produced only by surviving flower stalks of the plant.
Pests
Another reason why strawberry flowers turn black in the middle is an invasion of insect pests. Most often, the crop is attacked by the raspberry-strawberry weevil. It is a black beetle, medium in size with a body length of about 2 mm. The insect overwinters in a layer of mulch or leaf litter, and with the arrival of spring it rushes to the strawberries and significantly spoils their harvest. At the moment when flowers begin to form on the bushes, and this usually happens at a temperature of +18 ° C and above, the pests lay eggs inside them. When the larvae hatch, they begin to eat the buds and leave waste products in the center, which causes them to turn black.Signs of a plant being damaged by a weevil are:
- drying out of flower stalks;
- the appearance of small holes on the buds and leaves of strawberries;
- blackening of the center of the flowers.
If you do not start fighting the insect in time, the crop yield will decrease noticeably
Measures to protect berries from frost
If, according to weather forecasts, there are return frosts, and flowers have already appeared on the strawberry bushes, so that they do not freeze and turn black in the middle, the plantings should be protected from cold weather. There are several ways to do this:
- On the eve of night frosts, completely cover all beds with film, agrofibre or spunbond. In the morning, when the temperature becomes above zero again, remove the material until the evening.
- Water the strawberries, as when the moisture evaporates, the temperature around the plants will increase.
- Smoke the bushes with smoke by laying straw or hay around the perimeter of the beds, covering the top with damp plant material, and setting it on fire at night.
Pest prevention
To prevent the centers of strawberry flowers from turning black due to the attack of the weevil, preventive measures should be taken against the insect when the first buds bloom. To do this, gardeners use biological preparations and insecticides directed specifically against this pest: Alatar, Nemabakt, Fufanon-Nova, Taran.
Among the folk methods that have proven themselves well in the fight against beetles:
- Ammonia. Strawberries are sprayed with its solution after watering. Take 60 ml of the drug per bucket of water.
- Vinegar solution.Irrigation is carried out during the formation of flowers and at the time of active budding. Dilute 200 ml of 9% vinegar in 10 liters of water.
- Infusions of tobacco leaves, tomatoes, tansy, hot peppers. They are prepared by soaking the material in water for several days.
Marigolds, onions, garlic, and calendula planted in strawberry rows help repel insects.
Conclusion
In strawberries, the centers of the flowers turn black or they fall off completely, most often due to sudden temperature changes, as well as attacks by the weevil beetle. In order to protect your plantings from this problem and not be left without a harvest, it is important to notice changes in time, find the reason for their appearance and try to correct the situation. But it’s even better in the spring to monitor the weather forecast daily and carry out preventative treatments against pests.
