Changing planting location within the garden helps avoid resident pathogens that could infect new plants. Plant new plants when vigor begins to decline. Botrytis Gray Mold. This is a very destructive disease of strawberry fruit. Symptoms include a moldy appearance in blossoms or in developing green fruit.
Infection often starts where the berry touches the ground, another berry or a dead leaf.
As the infection spreads, it becomes a dusty, gray mold which covers the fruit. Damp weather conditions and heavy foliage cover favor the disease. Proper spacing and avoidance of heavy matted rows will allow air movement around plants. Applying nitrogen in summer and fall rather than in spring will also help prevent gray mold. Mulch, if not too heavy, can help isolate the berry from the soil or decaying vegetation.