Expert: nick mccann - 4/23/2008

Question
Hello-my kids and I planted a container garden mid-march, with tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers.  I just realized that under the strawberry leaves is a forest of mushrooms.  There are a few mushrooms beginning to grow in the tomato plants as well.  How do I get rid of them, and how do I prevent them in the future?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Erica, mushrooms develop from spores and thrive in a moist environment; it seems the soil conditions under your strawberries are a haven for them; there is no fungicide or spray to control them, so I would suggest removing the top soil the spores are in, which means you may have to find a way to relocate your strawberries and tomatoes unless you can get rid of the top couple of inches of soil without disturbing the deeper rooted berries.