Berry Bulletin July 27, 2018

In this week’s bulletin: strawberry, raspberry and blueberry crop update, disease management, insect management, SWD management.

July 27, 2018

Click here for a pdf version: Berry Bulletin July 27

This week we received some much needed rain across most of the province. However, along with this rain areas of southern Ontario also received hail Thursday afternoon.

Strawberries: Growers are working through the renovation process and applying herbicides.  Malwina harvest is ongoing in eastern Ontario. New plantings are looking good and runners are beginning to root. Rain or irrigation will help runners take root.

Insects: Make sure to protect these new fields and renovated fields against virus with regular aphicides- there is very little tolerance for aphids in new fields. Apply an aphicide once there are more than 15 aphids on 60 leaves (1 in 4). We have also seen two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) in new plantings this year; check the underside of leaves for stippling and bronzing, and use a hand lens to see the mites.  Cyclamen mites: After managing for cyclamen mites at renovation it is important to monitor the new growth for mite damage to determine if more management is needed in late summer. Beneficial mites or Vegol Crop oil could help with cyclamen mite management in late August.

Day neutral strawberry harvest is underway. Scout and, if needed, manage for tarnished plant bugs, potato leafhoppers, TSSM, and spotted wing drosophila (SWD). See below for crop-specific recommendations.

Disease: Warm, wet weather will spread anthracnose. Captan, Maestro and Switch for botrytis control will also control anthracnose. Pristine and Cabrio should be tank mixed with a compatible fungicide rather than used alone for anthracnose control.

Blueberries: Blueberry harvest continues. Maintain coverage against SWD. See below for crop specific recommendations. .

Raspberries:  Summer fruiting raspberry harvest is finishing up in early areas in southern Ontario, and continues in the rest of the province.  Scout for TSSM as well on your raspberries. Avoid applying Mako in hot weather as Mako could lead to a mite outbreak.

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD):.

• SWD numbers continue to increase. We have found SWD in all of our monitored sites across the province except in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry counties.
• SWD numbers have been lower this year than 2017, which is likely due to a combination of factors, including the cold winter followed by the hot and dry temperatures we’ve been experiencing this summer. SWD are not as active in temperatures over 30C.
• However, SWD prefer the overcast, humid, and rainy weather we’ve had recently, and growers should be maintaining spray coverage and picking as often as possible.
• If you have ripe or ripening berries they are at risk and growers should manage for SWD. See below for crop-specific strategies.
• For all berry crops pick fruit early, clean and often. Cool fruit as quickly as possible after harvest.
• Spray every 5-7 days, and re-apply after a rain.
• Don’t spray in temperatures above 27C.
• SWD is more active in the evening and early mornings. Spray from 6-10 am or 6-10 pm if possible.
• Always rotate insecticide groups to reduce the risk of developing insecticide resistance.

Strawberries:

• Do not leave overripe or hail-damaged strawberries in the field; SWD populations can build up in this leftover fruit.
• Pick day-neutrals as clean and often as possible. Once you cannot keep up with harvesting every day or two it is time to maintain insecticide coverage.
• Use products that have activity on SWD and tarnished plant bug, such as Malathion.
• Research has shown that Assail has some activity on SWD eggs and larvae, but not adults. Assail can be used now to control leafhoppers and tarnished plant buds in day-neutrals.

Blueberries:

• Blueberries need to be sprayed weekly for SWD at this point.
• Use insecticides that will control both SWD and Japanese beetles, such as Exirel and Malathion, if you need to control Japanese beetles this season.
• Keep an insecticide ready in case you need to re-apply after a rain. Half an inch of rain requires a reapplication.

 

Raspberries:

• Growers need to maintain insecticide coverage on their summer raspberries if harvest is continuing for another 5-7 days. .
• Exirel and Malathion when applied for SWD will also control Japanese beetle adults.
• Plan your SWD management schedule now for control in fall-bearing raspberries. Between the 6 available products raspberry growers have 15-16 applications. Three of these products are group 5 (Delegate, Success and Entrust) – it is important to rotate to a new group to avoid developing resistance. Plan your rotation now, and keep a couple insecticides for re-applications after a rain.

Stay up to date with SWD catches by following the ONfruit blog for weekly updates posted at the end of the week:  https://onfruit.ca/

This link will take you to an infosheet with the 2018 SWD registrations: https://onfruit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/registration-for-swd-june-2018.pdf , or check out Ontario.ca/spottedwing, including two emergency use registrations (Mako & Malathion 85 E).

Twitter: Follow me on twitter @PateErica and our ONfruit blog for regular updates and berry information.

If you would like to subscribe to The Ontario Berry Grower newsletter send me an e-mail at  Erica.pate@ontario.ca.