Image placeholder
Grey mould (Botrytis)
Botrytis cinerea
Fungal diseaseHigh impact
Grey mould is an extremely common fungal disease that thrives in cool, damp, still conditions. It can affect almost any soft plant tissue - flowers, developing fruit, leaves, and stems. On strawberry it is one of the most significant causes of fruit loss.
Currently in peak season - extra vigilance worthwhile.
Key facts
- Type
- Fungal disease
- Active season
- Apr - Oct
- Peak season
- Aug - Oct
- Vulnerable stages
- Growing · Harvesting
- Spread rate
- fast
- If confirmed
- Act now
Signs & symptoms
- -grey or brown fuzzy mould on affected tissue
- -soft, brown, water-soaked patches on fruit or stems
- -on strawberry: rotting fruit covered in grey spore masses
- -on tomato: stem lesions or rotting fruit with concentric brown rings
- -flowers browning and failing to set
Management
Do now
- -Remove and bin all affected tissue immediately - spores spread rapidly
- -Improve airflow around plants by removing crowded growth
- -Avoid wetting foliage or fruit when watering
- -Do not compost infected material
Prevention
- -Space plants at recommended distances to allow airflow
- -Avoid planting in low-lying, still-air positions
- -Remove dead or dying plant material promptly throughout the season
Further reading
- -Botrytis spores are present in most garden environments - infection occurs when conditions are right, not from introduction
- -Short bursts of high humidity (e.g. cool damp nights) are often the trigger