It may be wise to purchase healthy, disease-free plants instead of renewing an old bed since plants may be infected with viruses. Many insect, disease, and weed problems can be avoided by fruiting a bed only two seasons and then starting a new one. Diseases and Insects Strawberry diseases are not a serious problem in North Dakota. Winter injury may be confused with or complicated by certain types of root diseases. However, adequate mulch protection and moisture with good surface drainage usually prevent these troubles.
Virus diseases are responsible for reducing yields.
Destroy any bed suspected of having virus infection and make a new planting with healthy stock. In most plantings, preventive measures are more effective than spraying for control of strawberry pests. Sanitary measures such as mowing and burning of leaves after berry harvest, clean tillage, removal of weeds and rubbish bordering the planting, coupled with the use of healthy planting stock and short rotations, are practical things that you can do to prevent insect and disease problems in your strawberry bed. April 1992 Reviewed and reprinted July 1995 NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo, North Dakota.