Growing strawberries on the site is not an easy process. It would be desirable, that berries were large, sweet, and a harvest rich. In the process of caring for a plant, a gardener often faces difficulties. Why the middle of a flower turns black in strawberries and black dots appear on it, we will find out in the article.
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The reasons why the middle of a flower turns black in strawberries
Damage to the middle of the flowers can occur for various reasons. In May, the air temperature often fluctuates, and the harvest is caught by night frosts. Frost leads to darkening of the central part of the flower. Also one of the main causes of blackness in the core are pests. Consider in more detail these factors.
Pests
The blackening of the core of the flower may occur due to pests, namely the raspberry-strawberry weevil. A small black bug with a size of 2 mm significantly spoils the crop. Wintering in mulch or fallen leaves, he rushes to the berry crop.
The most comfortable t for the development of culture + 18 + 20C. During the period of bud formation, pests lay eggs in them one by one in each inflorescence. Eggs up to 0.35 mm in size appear on early ripening strawberries. The emerged larvae begin to eat away the middle of the flower and continue to feed on the core for 1-1.5 months.
Signs of defeat raspberry-strawberry weevil:
- flower stalks begin to dry out, buds do not bloom;
- small holes appear on the leaves and petals of flowers;
- the heart of the flower turns black.
Weather
The blackening of the middle of the flower is due to the sudden onset of frost. Frosts first of all affect the fragile central part of the flower - receptacle.
Leaves of remontant strawberries can withstand a cold snap of -8C ..- 10C, if the temperature drops below -3C, then ovary damage occurs. If the frost reaches the root of the plant, then the entire crop dies. He needs to clean up and dig up the soil for another culture. If the rhizome is undamaged, a decrease in temperature affects the leaves. Berry has a chance to recover.
Blackened flowers will not give fruit, so they need to be carefully cut or obovat. Frost strongly affect the yield and reduce by a quarter. Only surviving peduncles will bear fruit.
Flower buds are susceptible to damage at different stages of shrub development. And in the period of budding, they are most susceptible. The obvious factors of frost damage to flowers are:
- darkened core of the flower;
- black on the tip of a ripened berry.
How to protect the berries so as not to turn black?
Depending on the reason for the darkening of the middle of the flower, you need to hold a series of measures to save the harvest.
Protection from low temperatures blooming strawberries
The bush tolerates winter, warming under a thick layer of snow. If there is no snow, and t keeps below 8C, then it is recommended to cover the bushes with straw mixed with manure, sawdust, leaves with a layer of 10 cm.
In the spring, it is recommended that the insulating material be taken out of the garden, where insect larvae may remain. Ignoring the warming of strawberries in winter is fraught with the freezing not only of the flower buds, but also of the fruit-bearing bushes themselves.
To avoid darkening of the bushes with a decrease in temperature, it is necessary to carry out a number of actions in the autumn period:
- burn old leaves, especially those that were prone to disease;
- make organic and mineral fertilizers;
- mulch and spud earth around each plant.
The spring protection of the flowering berry bushes from frost is as follows:
- It is advisable to protect the first blooming flowers. It is carried out by sprinkling. The procedure does not allow the plant to freeze and produces heat if the temperature has dropped to 0 ° C.
- Smoke landing. Filling the crop with smoke is carried out as follows: hay, straw or branches are piled up on the side where the smoke will be harvested. On top you can add moss or wet grass.
- Covering with agrofibre. If the frosts continue for several days, then in the evening you need to cover with agrofibre, and remove them in the morning for pollination of flowers to occur.
Protection against pests affecting the heart of flowers
When protecting the crop from the weevil, you need to be especially careful during the formation of buds. At this time, the female insects gnaw through the side of the flower and lay eggs in it.
After some time, the darkened bud or dries directly on the bush, or falls to the ground. During this period, it is too late to fight the pest. During the season one generation of weevils develops.Early strawberry varieties especially suffer from insects.
Pest Control Techniques:
- From autumn to burn damaged leaves away from the garden.
- Treat plants with infusion of tobacco, garlic, mustard, 200 g per 10 liters of water. You can also add a little grated soap to the solution. The solution is sprayed in the evening every day.
- Helps destroy insect solution karbofos 35 g per 10 liters of water. The bushes are sprayed during the appearance of inflorescences 5 days before flowering.
- It is possible to carry out the treatment with insecticides: Inta-Viry, Iskra-bio, Fitoverm, Agravertin
Weevil should be destroyed when the pedicels have already risen, but the buds have not yet isolated. Good prevention of pests - planting under the bushes with strawberries, onions or garlic. And indeed the smell of garlic is unpleasant for the weevil. You can simply wipe the leaves of culture garlic juice.
If you follow all the recommendations, problems with the darkening of the middle of the flower will not arise. A rich harvest to you!