Can I still eat berries with small holes?

It is best to avoid eating damaged fruit because pests can introduce bacteria. It is safer to toss them in the compost.

How often should I check for slugs?

Check your patch every evening, especially after it rains. Being proactive is the best way to save your harvest.

Virginia strawberry: pests, causes and fixes

Check these first

Look for slime trails on the soil near the berries.
Check the fruit for small, clean holes that suggest bird pecks.
Inspect the base of the plant for hiding pests during the day.

Likely causes

Slugs
Most likely
How to tell: You will see irregular holes in your ripening fruit and shiny slime trails on the soil or leaves. They are most active at night or during damp weather.
What to do: Place a shallow dish of beer in the ground near the plants to trap them. You can also sprinkle crushed eggshells or coffee grounds around the base to deter them.
Birds
Possible
How to tell: The fruit looks pecked or partially eaten during the day. Unlike slugs, birds leave clean, jagged bites on the berries.
What to do: Cover your strawberry patch with bird netting or a light mesh screen. This keeps the birds away while still allowing sunlight and water to reach the plants.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your virginia strawberry

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

Take action as soon as you see the first sign of damage, as pests can ruin an entire harvest in just a few days. It is normal to lose a few berries to nature, but you should protect the rest.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the area around your strawberries clean and free of mulch or debris where slugs like to hide during the day.

Virginia strawberry: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your virginia strawberry and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I still eat berries with small holes?: It is best to avoid eating damaged fruit because pests can introduce bacteria. It is safer to toss them in the compost.
How often should I check for slugs?: Check your patch every evening, especially after it rains. Being proactive is the best way to save your harvest.

Guides to these causes

Slugs and Snails

Why are pests eating my Virginia strawberry fruit?