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 T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales

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.

On Apr 17, 5:29*pm, 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?

Or they have a virus.

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

On Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:10:33 +0100, Roger Tonkin
wrote:

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.

Roots staying high and moving out rather than down may indicate that
the plants have been watered too little, too often. Won't hurt to
gently knock a plant out of another pot and check its roots.

Harry's suggested a virus but I don't know of one which would cause
stripes! My photosynthesis thought was on the basis that the leaves
might be nicely green near the main veins and becoming yellow as you
moved away from those.

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

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?


It sounds like chlorosis caused by an iron deficiency. I don't think
it's a virus else they wouldn't be growing vigorously. It sounds like
they are very pot bound and should be transferred to the ground or kept
in a much larger container. Growing strawberries in pots is a waste of
time. Strawberries make big rootballs and they will get potbound quickly.

http://customers.hbci.com/~wenonah/min-def/berry.htm (see 309/310)

In article ,
says...

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?

Thanks for all the help. Spider's link showed leaves looking rather like
mine!

I'm not convinced on the pot bound theory, despite my own evidence. The
worst effected plants are in large 18" pots, 2 or 3 plants round the
edge of the pot (but a bit heavy to lift and knock out to see the
roots!).

I'll just keep giving them the tomorite and maybe a bit of blood, fish
snd bone.

Backgroud to why they are in pots is twofold:

1. In the ground, our dear friendly psky squirrels come and eat them,
even if I try and net them - they jump onto the net and force it down. I
intend building a strong cage, but.............

2. This year we will be away for last half of May and most of June (the
strawberry season) so I thought I woukd try and encourage some early
fruits, hence pots and greenhouse!

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales