Grey mould in strawberries is one of the most serious problems during flowering and fruit ripening. After long rainfall, cooler weather and high humidity, disease pressure can increase very quickly. Botrytis infects flowers, fruitlets and ripening fruit, and the first symptoms often appear when the plantation is already at high risk of losses.
Under such conditions, quick inspection, well-selected protection and microbiological support are important. The sooner the grower reacts after rainfall, the greater the chance of limiting disease development.
When does grey mould in strawberries develop fastest?
The risk of infection increases especially when moisture remains on plants for a long time. Wet flowers, leaves and fruit create favourable conditions for Botrytis development. The problem becomes stronger after several days of rainfall, with poor air movement in the plantation and lower temperatures that slow down plant drying.
In the plantation, it is worth paying attention to:
- moisture remaining on plants for a long time,
- infected flowers,
- browning fruitlets,
- softening fruit,
- first signs of mould growth,
- reduced fruit quality after rainfall.
During flowering and ripening, any delay can mean greater losses, so after rain it is worth checking the plantation as soon as possible.
Why may intervention alone not be enough?
Under high disease pressure, it is important not only to limit the pathogen, but also to rebuild the balance on the plant surface. After intensive rainfall, the microflora on flowers, leaves and fruit may be weakened, and tissues may become more vulnerable to colonisation by pathogens.
That is why the post-rainfall strategy should include several elements:
- quick assessment of the plantation,
- removal or reduction of infection sources,
- fungicide protection adapted to the growth stage,
- microbiological support for cleaned tissues,
- shorter intervals between treatments during the critical period of the season.
This approach helps act not only on visible symptoms, but also supports the plantation when fruit is most exposed to infection.
Microbiological biofilm as protection support
After disinfecting or cleaning the plant surface, it is worth supporting rapid colonisation of tissues with beneficial microflora. This is where microbiological biofilm becomes important — a layer of beneficial microorganisms on the surface of leaves, flowers and fruit.
Bacteria from the genus Bacillus spp. can support the formation of such a biofilm. As a result, the plant surface is colonised more quickly by beneficial microorganisms, which may make it more difficult for unwanted microflora to develop and can support the natural biological barrier.
In practice, this fits well into a plantation protection strategy after rainfall, especially when grey mould pressure is high.
VitaFer Strong under Botrytis pressure
VitaFer Strong can be part of microbiological support for strawberry plantations after rainfall. The product is based on beneficial Bacillus spp. bacteria, which quickly colonise cleaned tissues and support the formation of a long-lasting biofilm on the plant surface.
Under high Botrytis pressure, it is worth considering VitaFer Strong as an addition to the protection programme. It does not replace fungicides, but it can support a strategy combining chemical protection, microbiology and rebuilding of the plantation microflora.
What should be done after long rainfall?
After a period of rain and cooler weather, the strawberry plantation should be checked as soon as possible. Flowers and ripening fruit are especially important, as they are most exposed to infection.
In practice, it is worth taking several steps:
- inspect the plantation quickly after rainfall,
- check flowers, fruitlets and ripening fruit,
- assess whether grey mould pressure is visible,
- where the technology includes a disinfecting treatment, apply it according to recommendations,
- the next day after cleaning the tissues, consider applying VitaFer Strong,
- adjust fungicides to the growth stage and disease pressure,
- shorten intervals between treatments during the critical flowering and ripening stages.
Such actions allow a faster response to conditions that favour Botrytis development.
Grey mould in strawberries — quick reaction matters
Grey mould in strawberries can develop very quickly, especially after several days of wet weather. That is why the most important step is to act immediately after rainfall: inspect the crop, assess disease pressure, choose appropriate protection and support the plantation microbiologically.
It is better not to wait until infected fruit become visible on a larger scale. During flowering and ripening, a quick response helps reduce losses and better protect harvest quality.
Check VitaFer Strong and choose microbiological support suited to the current situation in your strawberry plantation.
