How to Keep Strawberries From Rotting on the Plant

By Jamie Lisse

Strawberry plants come in two main varieties. The "June bearing" strawberry variety only produces fruit in the summer. The "Everbearing" strawberry variety produces fruit throughout the season. Regardless of which variety you have planted in your garden, rotting fruit can be a problem since strawberry plants are low-lying plants. Since strawberries can be grown more than one way, there is no one right way to prevent rotting on the plant.

Place straw mulch around the plant -- if there is excess water in the soil -- so that the berry stems remain upright and the actual fruit cannot touch the soil or any mold on the soil.

Plant your strawberries in mounded rows. On each side of the plant cover the mounds with plastic wrap. This prevents the strawberries from touching the soil, which can result in rot.

Use strawberry planters, which are specifically designed for growing strawberries and preventing rotting. Transfer your strawberry plants by filling the bottom of the planter with gravel and covering with compost up to the hole. Carefully dig up the strawberry plant and put the roots through the hole, spreading them out on the compost before covering with about an inch of compost.

Check the plants daily for ripeness. Pick the strawberries as soon as you notice that they are ripe to prevent rotting on the plant.

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