Erica Pate, Fruit Crops Specialist
519-410-0624 (NEW!)
@PateErica
June 15, 2019 Berry Bulletin June 14 pdf
Strawberries: Day-neutral harvest is under way on over-wintered plants, and June-bearing harvest has just begun in Southern Ontario, and the earliest harvest is a few days away in eastern Ontario on row-covered strawberries. In new day-neutral plantings continue to remove flower buds and bloom until there are 6-8 leaves present to help the plants establish. Across the province the crop potential continues to look great and there is a lot of bloom and green fruit out there.
Apogee can be applied for runner suppression in day-neutrals where runners are not needed. Apply before runner formation; plants should have 4-6 leaves before the first application is made. If necessary a second application can be made 3 weeks later. Tank-mix Apogee with a non-ionic surfactant.
Insects: Continue to monitor for tarnished plant bug, clipper weevil, aphids and cyclamen mites.
Tarnished plant bugs (TPB): Options for control during the green fruit stage are group 3 insecticides (Mako, Matador, Decis), Rimon, Assail or Beleaf for suppression only. Group 3s can be toxic to beneficial insects so avoid these if there is a history of mites. Rimon and Beleaf work best on early-instar nymphs. Do not spray when bees are active.
Clipper weevil: Clipped buds can be found in some fields. If in bloom monitor for clipped buds and if necessary Mako and Matador are registered, but these group 3 insecticides can be toxic to beneficial insects. Border sprays may provide enough control. Clipper weevil will not damage buds after the bloom has opened.
Strawberry Aphids: Monitor for aphids by looking on the lower surface of new, folded leaves. Winged aphids can be found in some fields- it is important to control them at this point before they fly and spread virus to new fields, and at least one aphid spray should be applied by now.
Cyclamen mites: Some damage can be found in new and established June bearing fields and in day-neutral fields. It is important to monitor all fields for damage and check leaves for mites- look for areas of low vigour and crinkled, distorted leaves. If necessary Agri-mek can be applied post-bloom or wait to spray for mites until after renovation. Cyclamen mites can be protected in the crown and new growth so a high-volume spray is necessary to ensure thorough coverage. Do not spray during bloom.
Disease: These continuing wet conditions can lead to higher disease pressure, including botrytis, angular leaf spot, common leaf spot, and leather rot. Powdery mildew has also begun to show up.
Botrytis and leather rot have been found in day-neutral fields. Maintain fungicide coverage during these wet conditions for botrytis. Include broad-spectrum group-M fungicides in your disease management program for botrytis and anthracnose and always alternate fungicide groups.
Blueberries: are in bloom or petal fall across the province and the crop is looking good.
Insects: Apply a spray at petal fall or use pheromone traps to time sprays for cranberry and cherry fruitworm. If there is a history of these pests in your field you may need another spray 7-14 days later. If not, one spray could be enough. Some of these products will also control gypsy moth larvae which we have seen a lot of in some areas.
Raspberries: are beginning to bloom and green fruit is present in the south west. Primocane fruiting raspberries are 2-3 feet tall in early areas.
Insects: Developing flower buds on summer-fruiting varieties are susceptible to raspberry fruitworm. Scout for raspberry fruitworm by tapping the bud clusters over a paper plate or tray, similar to tarnished plant bug scouting. If you see leaf shredding check for raspberry sawfly larvae; green bristly larvae on the lower leaf surface on newly shredded leaves. Avoid spraying during bloom.
Spotted Wing Drosophila: The first SWD have been caught in the southwest and we have traps set up across the province. This is an early year for SWD so prepare to manage for SWD on June-bearing strawberries and summer-fruiting raspberries if necessary. Check our blog for regular updates and counts. Spraying for SWD isn’t necessary until there is ripe fruit present + SWD is active in your area. Incorporate as many of these tools in your management approach:
- Calibrate your sprayers now to ensure excellent coverage once you start to spray.
- Once harvest begins plan to pick every other day if possible (every day is even better)
- cool fruit immediately after harvest.
- Remove umarketable fruit from the field and destroy it.
I have a new phone number: call or text my cell phone at 519-410-0624.
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