Why Strawberries Do Not Ripen? 4 Common Problems + Tips to Speed up Ripening

Why strawberries do not ripen? What makes strawberries turn red? What are the most common problems and what how to fix them? What conditions are needed to improve strawberry ripening?

Why Strawberries Do Not Ripen?

This year I decided to plant strawberries in my garden. I was so excited to have my own harvest of these sweet red berries! I already imagined myself preparing lots of strawberry pies and even little jars of jam for the winter… Unfortunately, time passes and I realize that mw strawberries do not ripen. My harvest is in danger, what should I do? What are the possible reasons?

Strawberries Do Not Ripen Due to Bad Weather Conditions and Drought

Poor weather conditions and drought are often the main reasons that answer the question why strawberries do not ripen. Drought, high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night or even heavy rains can ruin the strawberry harvest.

When, for example, the temperatures are too high and there is no rain, the soil dries out very quickly and the fruits cannot ripen. Lack of humidity is very common during the summer when temperatures can reach between 85-95F/30-35C. Without enough water, strawberry plants can even die.

What to do? Should strawberries be watered daily? Yes, experienced gardeners advise trying to water your plants every day, especially when the temperatures are high and rainfall is low. Use between 1 to 1,8 gallons/5 to 7 liters of water for each strawberry plant.

Strawberries Do Not Ripen Because the Soil Lacks Nutrients

As with all plants, strawberries also need rich soil to grow well. When strawberries do not ripen, it may mean that the soil doesn’t have the nutrients necessary for this to happen.

What to do? The solution here is quite obvious: you have to feed the soil well to get ripe, red fruit. Do this during the spring and summer when the plants produce fruit. You can use organic compost or manure to enrich the soil in your garden.

Fungal Infections Can Prevent Strawberry Plants from Ripening

You water and fertilize well, but still wonder why strawberries do not ripen? In this case, it’s probably fungal disease. Plant stems that are turning brown and limp, leaves starting to wilt or turn brown, and spots appearing on fruit are all signs of disease on strawberries.

What can you do? Fungal diseases are often caused by poor soil drainage. So make sure that the soil in your garden is well drained and that water does not stagnate around the plants. Although we said above that plants should be watered daily, excess water is also not good for these plants. Try antifungal products if you ever notice signs of disease in your garden

Strawberry Roots or Stems Are Damaged

Often, if the roots or stems of strawberry plants are damaged, the strawberries do not ripen and remain white or green in color. Over time, they will eventually rot or die. This damage is usually caused by the various insect pests that attack strawberry plants.

What can you do to prevent it? Prevention is the best course of action here. It is recommended that you plant your strawberries in a sunny spot in your garden. The sun accelerated the ripening process of the fruits. You can also treat strawberry plants against pests using natural methods such as black soap.

What Makes Strawberries Ripen?

How to help strawberries ripen? What steps should I take to ensure a good harvest? How to take good care of strawberries? Here’s a list of important factors to consider:

• Watering: Strawberries need plenty of water to turn red and ripen, but too much is not good for the plants. When watering, avoid wetting plant leaves and use mulch to retain moisture longer in the soil.
• Soil: The perfect soil for strawberries is slightly acidic and rich in organic matter. Use compost to nourish the soil and try to ensure good drainage for the soil by mixing sand into it.
• Light: Plant strawberries in a full sun spot, which means at least six hours a day or more. Lack of sunlight crucial for these plants and may be the reason why strawberries do not ripen.
• Fertilization: Strawberries need lots of nutrients to grow well. Use fertilizers rich in nitrogen and potassium during planting and flowering. Fermented banana water is also a good choice for feeding strawberry plants.