I have just harvested about 20 strawberries which I have been growing in a sort of nylon tub thingie with pockets on the sides. I thought I wasn't going to get any at all, as they seemed to be about a month behind. They are all deformed - like elephant man deformed, and some have black bits on them.

Is this because they are late, or there were too many crammed into the container? I am sure somebody will know.......

If the black bits are round are you sure that they are not giant sleeping lady birds.

@VM

OK so you want to be sensible so here goes:-

Strawberry black spot is an economically important disease of strawberries caused by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. The fungus can remain unobserved in strawberry plants until the crucial fruiting period. Then, if conditions are favourable for the disease, it develops rapidly resulting in substantial losses (up to 80% yield loss) both in the field and when the fruit reaches market.
This fungus can also infect a wide range of other plants, both within and outside the UK, such as anemone, lupin, camellia and apple.

When you have got over how knowledgeable I am you can try this link

http://fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/publica ... strawb.pdf

Here's a wee pic of them. I put them on a doiley.......the other one looked ok, so it sort of fell in my mouth.....

Bliddy hell Monsy dig 'em and burn them they look lethal.

Mons ...... what can one say