May 27 Berry Bulletin

In this bulletin:

Crop & pest update
Pick-Your-Own Roundtable, June 2
Pub 360 Print Versions

Table of Contents

Berry Bulletin May 27

Strawberries:

A lot can change in a couple weeks! Nice to have some warmer weather this last week and see some action in the fields. June-bearing strawberries that weren’t row covered this spring are in bloom and looking good- there has been a lot of growth over the last few days with the warm weather. Green berries can be found where row covers were used, and harvest should begin in a couple weeks. Day neutral harvest is quickly approaching.

Remove flower buds from new day-neutral plantings until there are 4-6 leaves present.

Tarnished plant bug (TPB): early instars are active now where bloom is present. More TPB can be found where row covers were used this spring. The threshold for control is an average of 1 nymph in 4 taps. There is a 2 minute video YouTube on Scouting for Tarnished Plant Bugs in Strawberries (URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88yzxn_G3Xs)

Clipper weevil: clipper weevils are also active. Look for clipped buds around the edge of fields. Border sprays can be enough to control clipper weevils- group 3 products (Mako, Matador) can be hard on beneficial insects and lead to a mite flare up.

Aphids: Insecticides are going on for aphid control. Check your new fields as well- it is important to protect these fields through the season. Cygon and Lagon can be applied before bloom and will also control TPB. Beleaf can be applied during bloom and will suppress TPB. Assail will also control both aphids and TPB. In new fields control aphids with a soil drench of Admire. Check out this article on strawberry aphid control options: What’s your plan for strawberry aphid control?(URL: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/allontario/ao0316a1.htm

Mites: cyclamen mites and two-spotted spider mites are active. Check your older fields in particular for cyclamen mite damage to determine if an application of Agri-mek is needed. Work in new fields first before moving to older fields to reduce the risk of spreading mites to a new field.

Disease: Apply fungicides for botrytis and anthracnose control during bloom. Warm wet weather during bloom favours anthracnose development. It’s warm and there is some rain in the forecast, so make sure to include a fungicide that will provide anthracnose control during bloom sprays. Captan, Maestro and Switch are registered for botrytis control and will also provide anthracnose control.

Raspberries:

Raspberries fruit buds can be found. Ferbam or Tanos can be applied before bloom to control Anthracnose and spur blight.

Insects: watch for raspberry fruitworm and clipper weevil as flower buds develop. If there are no signs of beetles or leaf shredding an insecticide isn’t needed until after bloom.

Blueberries:

The first flowers on blueberries can be seen. Bloom is a good time to apply fungicides for anthracnose and botrytis. Use fungicides that control both these diseases. This is also a good time to control Phomopsis.

Gypsy moth: Gypsy moth larvae have been found in strawberries and blueberries. They are not usually a concern in berries but they do feed on foliage. Look in fields surrounded by woods and especially young plantings that can tolerate less damage. Bacillus thuringienesis products (Dipel, Bioprotec) applied for cranberry and cherry fruitworm will also have some activity on gypsy moth larvae. The picture (Figure 1) is from last year and are bigger than what has been seen so far this year.

gypsy moth larvae feeding and damaging blueberry leaves. — Figure 1. Gypsy moth larvae on blueberry leaves.

Pick-your-own:

With the Pick-your-own season quickly approaching join me for a PYO Zoom meeting and discussion on June 2^nd: ‘Pick-Your-Own in 2020 Roundtable’. This meeting will cover running PYO operations this season, and is also an opportunity for a roundtable discussion on different ideas and challenges to consider when preparing for the season.

When: June 2, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckcO2gqjMqE9S0LZrNN52Plueov6MHNRif

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This meeting will focus on strawberry, raspberry and blueberry operations but is applicable to other crops.

Pub 360 Print Versions

Print versions of Publication 360 can be purchased through Service Ontario. The publication has been split into Apples, Berries, Grapes, Tender Fruit and Tree Nuts.

Individual books are $10 each or $35 for the kit of all 5. The links below will take you directly to the site to order.

360A English – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300247

360A French – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300248

360B English – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300251

360B French – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300252

360C English – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300255

360C French – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300258

360D English – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300259

360D French – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300260

360E English – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300263

360E French – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/300264

Full Kit/Series English – https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/publication-360-series-crop-protection-guides-for-fruit-a-to-e