As infected fruit dry up and mummify, they fall to the ground and lie at or slightly below the soil surface. Oospores formed within the mummified fruit enable the fungus to survive the winter and cause new infections the following year, thus completing the disease cycle. Control Select a planting site with good soil drainage and air circulation. Good soil drainage is critical. Sites that drain poorly or are subject to periodic flooding are ideal for leather rot development.
Plant rows with the direction of the prevailing wind to promote faster drying of foliage and fruit.
Mulch strawberry plants with straw or other material that reduces fruit contact with soil. Research in Ohio has shown that a good layer of straw mulch is very beneficial in controlling leather rot. Proper spacing of plants and timing of fertilizer applications are important. Excessive applications of nitrogen fertilizer can produce excessive amounts of dense foliage. Shading of berries by thick foliage prevents rapid drying of fruit during wet periods and creates ideal conditions for disease development.