Agriculture: Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines

Flowering to First Harvest

This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of strawberry fruit-production fields in California. Pest management activities for strawberry nurseries are discussed only as they impact pest problems in the field.

About Flowering to First Harvest

Monitor for spider mites and caterpillars (cutworms, armyworms).

  • Keep records (PDF), and manage as needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

Monitor lygus bug in Central Coast plantings and Southern California summer plantings.

Keep records (PDF) and manage as needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

Monitor for other insects and mites and flag locations with problems:

  • Aphids
  • Cyclamen mite
  • Thrips
  • Whiteflies

Look for diseases and flag locations with problems:

  • Angular leaf spot
  • Anthracnose
  • Common leaf spot
  • Fusarium wilt
  • Leaf blotch
  • Phytophthora crown and root rot
  • Red stele root rot
  • Verticillium wilt

Manage diseases as needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

  • Botrytis fruit rot
  • Powdery mildew

Look for vertebrate pests and flag locations with problems:

  • Deer
  • Ground squirrels
  • Moles
  • Pocket gophers
  • Voles

Survey for weed emergence; manage as needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

Consider monitoring salinity of irrigation water.

Monitor soil moisture and irrigate as needed.

Apply fertilizer as needed.

Text Updated: 07/18
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