Garden Pest and Plant Disease Listing - GR

GRAY MOLD: This is one of the most common problems with strawberries. Affected flowers turn brown; fruit develops soft, light brown spots that become covered with gray fungal growth, then they rot. Rainy, cool weather encourages the spread of this fungus, as does handling healthy berries after touching infected ones. Pick and destroy infected berries to keep spores from spreading. To prevent, mulch early in the season to keep fruits off the ground and avoid planting on low, wet sites.

GREENFLIES (Aphids): These insects have fat, teardrop-shaped bodies in various colors, green being the most common. They can be spotted by their white discarded skins on the plant, especially around the leaf bases and flower stalks. These pests suck on the young leaves and flowers at the ends of stems excreting honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold. The honeydew can be washed off with a spray of water. These pests multiply rapidly, but are among the easiest of the pests to kill. The least toxic chemicals are insecticidal soap and diatomaceous earth. Lacewings and ladybird beetles (ladybugs) are excellent biological methods of control. To prevent infestations, new plants should be quarantined and inspected often before setting with the other plants.

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