Why aren't strawberries blooming?
Strawberries are a favorite delicacy of many, which grows, perhaps, in all household plots. If the strawberry does not bloom and has stopped producing berries, then we begin to look for the reason. There can be a lot of these reasons. Let's take a look at some of them.
The plant is damaged by disease or pests.
Most often, strawberries are affected by a fungus that causes diseases such as:
Powdery mildew- a white bloom forms on the leaves.
Gray rot- gray spots appear on the plant, which grow, and then become covered with a gray fluff.
Phytophthora- brown-gray spots appear on the fruits, surrounded by white mold, then the fruit dries up. Then the whole bush dries up.
Black spot- red leaves appear, which dry out over time. Black spots appear on the stems, shoots and fruits.
Among pests, the most common are:
Weevil, which lays eggs in buds, from which they die.
Spider mite- a cobweb appears on the plant, it is immediately noticeable.
Nematodes- very small insects, their activity leads to darkening and deformation of the leaf blade.
Aphid- eats stems, leaves, flowers.
To fight insects, you can use both folk remedies and chemical preparations, of which there are now a lot. The most important thing is to process the bushes before the berries appear.
The strawberries did not survive the winter well.
If there was little snow, then the plant could freeze. This can damage the core of the stem, i.e. the stem tissue died. In the spring on such bushes there will be few leaves 1-2. If the plant looks weak, there are few leaves on it and they are deformed, and the peduncles are short, then these are clear signs of freezing of strawberries. Nothing can be done with such plants. For the future, you need to cover the bushes better, but do not get carried away, so that the plant does not mature and does not start to rot.
Lack or excess of fertilizer.
When feeding the bushes after winter, they overdid it with nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of green parts of the plant. The strawberries will be strong with strong foliage, but will not flower. To correct the error, apply fertilizers containing phosphorus - it will accelerate the growth of the root system, potassium - will stimulate flowering, and then fruiting. Be prepared that the effect will not come immediately, but maybe only
but for the next year. Lack of fertilization will also have a detrimental effect on fruiting. It is imperative to feed the bushes as they grow.
Strawberries do not bloom: perhaps there is not enough light
We planted the plant in a poorly lit place. Strawberry is a light-loving plant and does not tolerate any shade well. Look at the plant, if it grows in the shade, transplant it.
There is not enough water.
Plants must be watered to prevent overdrying the soil. With a lack of water, flower buds are not formed. Watering should be done throughout the growing season, even after you have harvested.
Bad soil.
Strawberries do not grow on clay soils. When irrigated, such soils become very dense, the air practically does not get to the roots. Even if you constantly loosen the soil, there will still be little air for the strawberries. The best soil for her is loose, in which air circulates well.
If for some reason you do not have the opportunity to transplant strawberries to a good place, then add sand, humus to the soil. Drain or plant the bushes at a low height so that the water flows down from it.
The strawberry bushes are old.
If strawberry bushes are more than 3-4 years old, then their yield decreases. Bushes become lethargic, dry. The berries are not large and also dry - this is a clear sign of degeneration. Replace old bushes with new ones. For rejuvenation, take a mustache from old bushes and do it better in early summer, so that the plant has time to take root before the cold weather. This procedure is best done every year.
Set too deep.
When replanting, you may have planted the plant too deep. Strawberries have the so-called core of the stem, or heart - this is a small seal at the base, from which new shoots and flower stalks extend. Properly planted bushes should have a heart at ground level. Look carefully, if the core of the stem is underground, release it immediately. If it is very high above the ground, throw it in the ground.
They planted it late.
It is best to replant strawberry bushes after fruiting and until mid-August. If you plant later there is a risk that the plants will not take root. Or the next year they will grow the root system and leaves.
This year's strawberries.
Strawberry bushes were planted only this year, then you should not wait for flowers. Since the plant has gone through stress and is trying to take root in a new place. If you bought seedlings already with flowers, it is better to tear them off so that the plant has good roots. You may not have a harvest this year, but next year a new strawberry will delight you.
Weed strawberries.
It often happens that strawberries have good, juicy, green bushes, but there are no flowers or there are, but very few of them, and even fewer fruits. This means that you have come across a weedy, wild strawberry - which will never yield a rich berry harvest. Such bushes can be safely dug out, since no matter what you do, the result will be zero.
In order for the berries to set after the flowers in the spring, remove all dry, let down foliage; loosen the ground, treat the ground with fungicides.
There are a lot of reasons why strawberries do not bloom, and, therefore, do not please you with a rich harvest of berries. It is not enough to plant strawberries, you need to constantly look after them. See that she has enough sun, nutrients, water. Fight diseases and pests. Rejuvenate the bushes. Observe the landing dates. If you do all this, believe me, strawberries will thank you!