Save the berries!

[zebu]

If I let my strawberries ripen "on the vine," many times bugs have gotten to them overnight before I could pick them. Do I have to pick them a day early to avoid losing them to bugs or is there a way to combat these critters with organic methods? Also, if I leave the ones that are already chewed on as sacrifices, will they keep the bugs satisfied or will they just attract more bugs to the patch?

Silly questions, I'm sure. Still just trying to figure out how my grandpa did it. He made it look so easy.

[goldfinches]

I don't know how to organically prevent bugs, but I don't think strawberries ripen after they're picked. So, picking them early wouldn't work.

[Yuba_River]

Do you know what is eating them? I have mine netted and mulched with straw and that seems to cut down on the loss somewhat. You could try little beer traps to see if you could catch some of the critters...

[ParisApril]

I came here to ask this question. My strawberries are being eaten by slugs, ants and medley bugs.

I will try some beer today and see if that helps. Will it help if I drink the rest of the bottle?

Any other thoughts?

[iowaorganic]

I don't know about the slugs.

But most insect damage is caused because the plan is low in nutrients to begin with. You really need to raise the brix level (sugar level). Your soil is not in balance. Did you use a starter fertilizer? If so you probably need to add some zinc. The quickest and easiest way to fix berries though is by adding calcium. Almost everyones garden is improved by calcium. Dramm has a great fish fertilizer.

Bugs only really see unhealthy plants.

You could pick them a day early though. They will ripen- that is how it works in stores- they pick them and ripen with ethylene.

Look for some neem oil- that could also be a quick fix of getting the bugs off quick- but you would have to spray quite frequently.

[zebu]

I think it's baby slugs. Maybe I should mulch with salt Usually, the damage is just a little hole that I cut off, but still, what a bummer.

I have them netted to keep the birds and deer away.

I didn't fertilize this year, yet. I started them last year in compost and just used the mulch that we used on the rest of our grounds (sort of a topsoil/wood chip mix).

Thanks for all the suggestions!