Poorly plants - advice please

[Spinney]

My raspberries, strawberries and one or two other plants are looking poorly, with some of the leaves (especially young ones) looking much yellower than they should, some with brown bits on the edges.
I've looked up the RHS advice, but the problem is that it looks to me as if it could be potassium deficiency or magnesium deficiency. The problem with that is that the latter can be caused by using high-potassium feeds, so if I feed it extra potassium and it is a magnesium deficiency, I'll only make it worse!
Having said that, I generally only give the garden a dose of slow release pellets once a year, and spread the contents of the compost heap occasionally, so it's not very likely to be over-feeding of anything.
Left - raspberry leaves and shoots, top right - strawberry, bottom right - healthy and unhealthy blackthorn leaves.

 

[pawl]

My raspberries, strawberries and one or two other plants are looking poorly, with some of the leaves (especially young ones) looking much yellower than they should, some with brown bits on the edges.
I've looked up the RHS advice, but the problem is that it looks to me as if it could be potassium deficiency or magnesium deficiency. The problem with that is that the latter can be caused by using high-potassium feeds, so if I feed it extra potassium and it is a magnesium deficiency, I'll only make it worse!
Having said that, I generally only give the garden a dose of slow release pellets once a year, and spread the contents of the compost heap occasionally, so it's not very likely to be over-feeding of anything.
Left - raspberry leaves and shoots, top right - strawberry, bottom right - healthy and unhealthy blackthorn leaves.

View attachment 350305

Certainly looks like mineral deficiency.
Also bear in mind how dry this spring has been.Some of the plants in my garden are looking a little sorry for themselves .Last nights rain has made them look much more healthy.
Don't a lot about soft fruit but a foliar feed may help.
If you have a decent nursery close by( not one of your superstore type) they should be able to give good advice.

 

[ufkacbln]

From my experienced and learned knowledge (CSE Grade 1 Rural Science 1975)....

Overwatering or IIRC 'scorching" or herbicides

 

[the snail]

Overwatering gives similar symptoms to nutrient deficiency, it stops the plant absorbing nutrients into the roots. Usually makes the leaves curl too. I think a dose of phostrogen etc would sort them out. IIRC you can use epsom salts for magnesium deficiency.

 

[Spinney]

Thanks all.
Cunobelin/snail, it has been very dry here this spring, and I've only watered a couple of times, so I'd be very surprised if it was overwatering. They didn't look like that after the very, very wet winter a couple of years ago.
I was hoping it was mineral deficiency rather than a virus - more easily cured! I guess that if a few different types of plant are suffering similar symptoms, it is less likely to be a virus.

 

[rich p]

If they're all suffering from it, then isn't it more likely to be the weather rather than a virus affecting all of them?
It has been a very dry start to the year here. Bone dry and cracked earth on the South Downs.

 

[Spinney]

If they're all suffering from it, then isn't it more likely to be the weather rather than a virus affecting all of them?
It has been a very dry start to the year here. Bone dry and cracked earth on the South Downs.

Yes, that's what I thought.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Yes, that's what I thought.

Give half of them some water and see. Strawbs are quite shallow rooted.....

 

[Spinney]

I did water half the raspberries this evening! But all the strawberries...

 

[Dave 123]

I would water the living daylights out of them to start with. You won't overwater them.

Secondly, try applying some of this
http://www.diy.com/departments/verve-volcanic-rock-dust-soil-remineraliser/212018_BQ.prd

If you look on the internet for reviews and thoughts, some people say it's no good. I have been using it on one specific bed at work and it's having great results. The bed I use it on is 2' wide and I expect a lot from it. It has cordon fruit trees and seasonal bedding including sunflowers in it year round, and was a bit poor before I started using the rock dust.
Applications of this and a good mulch has given grand results.

 

[classic33]

http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berrytool/raspberry/raspparts.htm
&
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berrytool/strawberry/STRparts.htm


http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berrytool/raspberry/leavesstems/Raspbrowning.htm

 

[irw]

[QUOTE 4784622, member: 259"]You can also try some Bordeaux mixture. My dad used to swear by it.[/QUOTE]

Finally something to do with all the red wine that's been piling up in the cupboard!

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Dry here in Somerset. Feed feed and feed. A little late but better than nothing. Then water. Water is slightly less important initially until they recover a bit. Do t drown them just yet.

A general purpose liquid feed (like borage made the same way as liquid comfrey) wouldn't go amiss. Bordeaux mix too as mentioned upthread.

Also rotate your strawberries every 3 years. Different plants (or layered from the parent plant) and different ground but not where potatoes have been and vice versa. Notorious for the viruses they pick up. Complex little things if you ask a plant pathologist.

 

[Paulus]

It Could it be a little frost damage. As it has been very dry, the plants are struggling a little, and last week there was a air frost a couple of nights.

 

[Spinney]

It Could it be a little frost damage. As it has been very dry, the plants are struggling a little, and last week there was a air frost a couple of nights.

Ah, the bird bath froze here too! I don't remember seeing the damage before that, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there... But a possible explanation, thanks.