Plants in low or poorly drained sections of the garden are more susceptible. Verticillium wilt is a fungus that attacks strawberries, as well as 300 other different host plants. This makes it difficult to avoid. Weeding and preventing wounding of roots help control this fungus. Do not plant strawberries in areas where previous crops were infected with Verticillium wilt.
Strawberries are susceptible to several fruit rots.
Gray mold or botrytis fruit rot is a very common disease. It occurs most during prolonged, cloudy and rainy periods before harvest. Correctly space plants and time fertilizer applications. If the gardener experiences ongoing disease problems in growing strawberries, identify the disease and treat with the appropriate chemical control according to label instructions. Slugs can be a persistent pest in the strawberry patch.