Strawberries: Leaves are red or purple

The most likely causes are:

Leaf scorch
Nutrient deficiencies

Symptoms of Leaf scorch, caused by the fungus Diplocarpon earlianum, include reddening and purpling of leaves. These symptoms result from growth and coalescence of smaller purple lesions.

Strawberry leaf with red-purple spotting indicative of leaf scorch. Spots are uniform in color. Entire leaves can turn mottled red as disease progresses.

Red discoloration and purple spotting on strawberry leaves.

Blotchy, mottled leaf heavily infected with leaf scorch. Some green patches are still visible across leaf surface.

Leaves showing different degrees of infection. Healthy green leaves beside mottled, spotty leaves, and heavily affected leaves with red color and purple spots.

Petioles, runners, fruit stems, and sepals may also be infected. Varieties differ in their susceptibility to this disease. More strawberry leaf scorch information

Strawberry planting showing symptoms of leaf scorch. Patches of plants look purple-brown while others remain healthy and green.

Ripening strawberry fruit beside symptomatic leaf with purple spotting.

Nutrient deficiencies such as nitrogen or phosphorus cause purplish to reddish-colored leaves. Phosphorus deficiency is most common when the pH is too low (<5.5) or too high (>7.0). More strawberry nutrient deficiency information

Reddish and purple discoloration in nitrogen deficient leaves. Discoloration starts at leaf edges and travels inwards. Discoloration is initially interveinal but becomes uniform over time. Leaf stems are uniformly purple. — Leaves from N deficient strawberry plants.

Strawberry leaf with red at very tips of leaves. Discoloration turns purple closer to leaf center, but the inner part of leaf remains green. Label on photo indicates phosphorous deficiency. — Leaves from phosphorous deficient strawberry plants.