Strawberry Patch

Question

I have a raised bed strawberry patch. It is doing very well in producing strawberries. Although they are smaller than I’d like, they are very plentiful. The problem I am having is that the strawberries seem mushy in the middle. They are firm on the outside but, when you bite into them, the inside is mushy. Am I watering them too much? Is it a disease? (They taste fine.)

Answer 1

There are a number of reasons, but you are on track in finding the cause. Too much water and not enough air circulation can be contributing factors to rot and mildew in strawberries. Also a calcium deficiency could a factor. You may want to look at these sites for more in-depth information: http://hubpages.com/living/What-Causes-Mushy-Strawberries
http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8202749_strawberries-mushy-before-even-ripe.html

Answer 2

If the strawberry plants aren’t getting enough sunlight, air circulation, calcium, and plant rotation (changing strawberry plants out after a few years) and too much humidity, many types of rot and other diseases can occur. Without seeing the plants in person, it’s hard to know which ailment is affecting the fruit. You can look at this webpage to see if you could narrow the ailment and the cause down as well as find a treatement if necessary: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/oldnotes/fd5.htm