Essential machinery

A good sprayer is essential. Most products recommended for botrytis control are non-systemic and therefore good control can only be achieved where there is good coverage of the flowers. Air assisted sprayers are probably top of the range, giving both good coverage and use of lower chemical rates. However, a special strawberry boom fitted with ruffle bar to a field sprayer will also give good results.

Also have an inter-row sprayer so that weeds in the alleyways and, after harvest, any runners remaining in the alleyways can be burnt off. This machine can also be equipped with small disks to sever the stolon from the mother plant. This is an advantage.

Runners and trash lying on the surface of the polythene also need to be removed. There are machines available for this although these are expensive. Alternatively these can be removed by hand.