Always pick all ripe fruit, even the small berries, to reduce the chance of fruit rots developing in the patch. Maintain good weed control and renovate plantings yearly to prevent dense, crowded conditions conducive to disease problems. Be sure to identify the disease problem and check reentry time and harvest limitations before applying pesticides that are labeled for strawberries. Failure to follow pesticide labels can result in illegal and harmful pesticide residues on the fruit. For further information on diseases, consult your county extension office.
Insects can sometimes be a problem in strawberry plantings.
Proper soil preparation and weed control can help limit many insect problems before and after planting. For further information on insects and control, consult your county extension office. Proper planting depth is important for quick establishment. In this drawing, plant A is at the proper depth. Mylo A. Hellickson, Director of CES, SDSU, Brookings.