Fungal disease
Grey mould
Botrytis cinerea
The classic fruit rot. Infects at flowering, then shows up on the berry — often after picking, in the buyer's hands rather than yours.
What you see
- 01Light brown areas spreading on the fruit
- 02Powdery grey growth over rotted fruit and leaf tissue
- 03Whole berries rotted but holding their shape, going tough and dry
What brings it on
Frequent rain, high humidity and moderate temperatures. Warm weather and rain at the onset of bloom drive blossom infection, which is where most of the damage is set up.
Why it costs money
The infection happens at flowering and stays latent, so a crop can look clean at harvest and break down in transit. It is the single most common reason fruit arrives a grade down.
What to do
- Remove and destroy sporulating berries rather than dropping them between the beds — they are the inoculum for the next round
- Anything that dries the canopy faster helps: spacing, mulch, drip rather than overhead water
- Pick clean and pick often; over-ripe fruit left on the plant feeds the epidemic
- Cool the fruit quickly after picking — the fungus keeps working at ambient temperature
Spray strategy. Target it early, at bloom, rather than reacting to visible rot on fruit. Use multi-site products as the backbone of the programme and rotate modes of action, because Botrytis develops resistance readily. Follow a CIB&RC-registered label and your local advisory for actual products and intervals.
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