Berry Bulletin August 13

In this bulletin:

• Crop Update
• Spotted wing drosophila monitoring

Strawberries:

Growers are finishing renovation across the province and renovated fields are looking good. In new June-bearing plantings continue to train runners. It is also time to apply 25-35 kg N per hectare on both new and renovated fields.  In day-neutrals volumes are increasing and harvest is going well.  

Insects:

In renovated fields and new fields don’t forget about aphid control. Aphids like the new, succulent growth following renovation and in new fields. If you are not monitoring for aphids they need to be sprayed every 2-4 weeks.  

Spotted wing drosophila is active in all areas we are monitoring and all growers with ripe fruit should be managing for SWD. Regular harvest in day-neutrals is a very effective tool to help manage SWD.

Continue to monitor for potato leafhoppers, two-spotted spider mites, and tarnished plant bugs in day-neutrals.

Cyclamen mites: After renovation is a good time to control cyclamen mites.  Look at the youngest, folded leaves to find the mites- open up the leaves and look at the base of the leaf and the midvein. Figure 1 is an example of a young leaf where mites were found. Growers should be watching for cyclamen mites and cyclamen mite damage in new plantings, renovated fields, and day-neutrals.

Disease: Continue to manage for anthracnose, botrytis and powdery mildew regularly in day-neutrals. Use Switch when there is high anthracnose pressure, during warm and rainy weather

Powdery mildew control may be necessary for new June-bearing plantings. Leaf edges will roll up and reddish-grey blotches will develop along the edge of the lower leaf surface (Figure 2).    

Reminder that we are monitoring for the new disease Neopestalotiopsis. The University of Florida has a great resource comparing different strawberry leaf diseases here: Leaf Spot Diseases of Strawberry. Leaf spots from Neopestalotiopsis have light centres and darker brown borders that become irregularly shaped as they enlarge. If you have suspicious leaf spots or fruit rot symptoms in your field you can contact Katie Goldenhar (katie.goldenhar@ontario.ca) or me (erica.pate@ontario).

Raspberries:

Summer-fruiting raspberries are done and fall-bearing raspberries are beginning to be picked. Clean up summer raspberries if you have other berries on your farm to help control SWD. In high tunnels watch for two-spotted spider mites. Look on the lower leaf surface for mites, eggs and webbing.

For Japanese beetle control in raspberries and blueberries Exirel will control both Japanese beetles and SWD, or Malathion also has some activity on Japanese beetles if growers are applying if for SWD control.

Blueberries:

Blueberry harvest is slowing down as growers move into later-season berries. It is very important for growers to maintain a tight SWD spray schedule and re-apply after a rain.

Spotted Wing Drosophila:

SWD pressure is high across the province and growers should continue to spray every 5-7 days for the rest of the season and harvest regularly. Growers need to continue managing for SWD where ripe fruit is present, including in day-neutral strawberries, raspberries & blueberries.  

Pyrethroid insecticides (Mako, Up-Cyde) will not work well in hot weather and will cause an increase in mites. Save this product for later in the season when mite pressure is low.

Use all forms of management. Do not spray in temperatures above 25^oC. Cool fruit as soon as possible after harvest. Use a salt water test to assess control on your farm.