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Roger Tonkin[_2_] · 18-04-2012, 05:10 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In article ,
lid says...

On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:29:30 +0100, Roger Tonkin
wrote:

I am growing some strawberry plants in pots in a cold greenhouse. They
are growing vigourously, with plenty of leaves and flowers. However the
leaves are turning a stripey yellow, verging on white. Obviously they
are lacking in something, but what?

Roger

I'd have thee thoughts, in rising order of likelihood:

1) Lack of light, leading to photosynthesis problems - unlikely in a
greenhouse unless it's heavily shaded;
2) Roots are potbound - only a likely problem for the novice grower
who doesn't understand these things
3) lack of nitrogen

I'd bet (3) is the most likely. Other deficiencies would tend to show
around the leaf edges rather than as you describe. Strawbs really need
a high nitrogen feed early in the season to develop the leaves and few
composts will provide this. As flowers/fruits develop they need high P
& K in their food.

I'd carry on feeding with a high P & K feed now (tomato feed) but also
work some blood, fish and bone into the compost around the plants. You
could try Growmore but I think you need something a bit faster acting.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the
dry end of Swansea Bay.

Thanks Jake,

I think I can rule out photosynthesis. The greenhouse is south facing,
with an open aspect, and a fence on the east side, about 10ft away.

I was going to rule out pot bound, but I just went down to empty some
pots where plants had died, and there was one strawberry there, not very
old, and the roots were quite meshed around the outside of the soil.
Inside ther seemed to be plenty of soil, so I suppose that the roots try
and stray away from the plant rather than go downwards.

I've found some elderly blood, fish & bone in the back of the shed,
which I'll work in, and keep going with the tomorite to seem what
happens.

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales