WHAT was that black thing that killed my strawberry plant?!

[expatinscotland]

Have 4 strawberry plants that are doing very well in a hanging basket.

Well, where.

One started to falter.

Today, all its flowers and the beginnings of the berries were DEAD. Petals all shrivelled up and berries all withered.

Leaves and stalked covered with wee black speck thingies.

What the hell are these?

How can I make sure they don't claim the others?

My first foray into gardening and already: PESTS.

can you be a bit more precise about these wee black speck thingies? are they moving? how big?

could the strawberries have just dried out? they hate getting dry

Take the suffering one out immediately - is it properly rooted, are therye creamy coloured grubs just under the soil? Vine weevils?

and check the others. If infected isolate them!

Post a picture if you can

the black thing that killed our strawberries was a labrador puppy but guessing this is not your problem.
is is sticky patches? if so maybe sooty mould. tis something to do with aphids.