Three Main Signs That Strawberry Bushes Need to Be Replaced 0 9

It is important to know the main signs indicating the need to replace strawberry bushes with young ones.

1. Decrease in the Quantity and Size of Berries

Strawberries are usually planted in the fall or spring. If the bushes were planted in the fall, the harvest will be small the following season. The maximum yield can be expected in the 2nd or 3rd year after planting. However, after 4-5 years, the bushes lose their characteristics, and the berries begin to shrink.

This is the first sign that the plant should be replaced. In remontant strawberries, small berries may appear in the second or third wave of fruiting, which is normal, as the plant loses many nutrients in forming the first harvest.

With spring planting, the principle remains the same: maximum yield will begin the following year. Many experienced gardeners bury air roots near old bushes so that when it is time to remove the old bush, a replacement has already grown in its place.

2. Long Growing Period

Strawberries prefer light, well-drained areas, so it is not recommended to grow them in one place for more than 4-5 years. If strawberries are kept in one place for too long, the bushes begin to age, and the yield decreases several times.

Therefore, old strawberry bushes should be removed, and the location for the beds should be changed. If this option is not possible due to lack of space, after removing the bushes, the soil layer should be restored, and then young plants should be planted.

3. Diseases on Leaves

Plants that have developed fungal or viral diseases will not be able to produce a full harvest. Usually, with the presence of diseases, the bushes begin to blacken and dry out. In such cases, it is better to replace the plant.

Before planting new strawberry bushes, the soil must be thoroughly disinfected; otherwise, the problem may recur. The causes of diseases can be not only infections from other plants but also:

• too frequent rains;
• excessive fertilization;
• failure to timely remove weeds;
• untreated gardening tools.

Therefore, to protect strawberries from diseases, it is important to responsibly follow agronomic recommendations.