Strawberries

After a cool week last week with multiple nights with frost crops are moving a bit faster now with the warm temperatures. Row covers are beginning to come off. There is bloom on June-bearing strawberries that were under row cover, and there is green fruit and bloom on over-wintered day-neutrals. Once these row covers come off watch for aphids, mites, tarnished plant bug, and clippers weevil. Field work has been slowed down by wet fields, but growers are busy planting day-neutral strawberries. Apply 50 kg of nitrogen with phosphorus and potassium or as a side dressing 2-3 weeks after planting.

Cyclamen mite: Although not much damage is evident yet begin scouting for cyclamen mite now. Look for stunted, crinkled plants (Fig. 1), and check the youngest, folded leaves for mites.

If mites or damage are found spray the entire field or the entire variety.   

If cyclamen mites are identified apply a miticide before bloom. Apply Agri-mek at 225 mL/ha in a high-volume spray (minimum 375 mL/ha), with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.1-0.5%, where permitted. It is very important to get thorough coverage- slow down and use a high volume.

Timing can be challenging: Make sure to keep a 5 day gap between Agri-mek or oil applications and chlorothalonil (Bravo or Echo) or captan applications. Do not apply sinbar after applying Agri-mek. Wait 5-7 days after Agri-mek before applying sinbar.

Magister was recently registered for two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) control on strawberries. If applying Magister for TSSM you may also get some activity on cyclamen mites. Apply magister at 2.34 L/ha in a minimum of 500 L water/ha. Magister can be applied with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% to improve performance.

Disease management: Now is a good time to apply Bravo or Echo for botrytis control on June-bearing strawberries to reduce disease inoculum and help with overall disease management later in the season. If there’s time apply 2 applications, 10 days apart. Make sure to get these applications on before bloom with the 30-day PHI.

Once bloom is present applying a group M product multiple times during bloom is important for resistance management and broad-spectrum disease control.

Our Suggestions for Anthracnose Management in Strawberries, 2024, have been updated for the season. See the onfruit.ca blog for these guidelines on managing this challenging disease.  

Spring can be an important time to control Phytophthora crown rot. Check out Phytophthora crown rot of strawberry for more information on managing crown rot.

Blueberries

The blueberry crop is looking promising, and bloom is beginning in southern Ontario.  

Mummy berry: Blueberries can be infected with mummy berry shoot blight at the bud burst stage. If you have a history of mummy berry, control is required from this stage through to early bloom, prior to rain. See the fungicide options on the Ontario Crop Protection Hub.  

Cane diseases: Use fungicides from different groups to control cane diseases such as phomopsis and anthracnose twig blight, including broad-spectrum fungicides like Bravo or Echo. Bravo/Echo can be used until petal fall. Once bloom arrives, use fungicides that control both anthracnose and botrytis.

Raspberries

Primocanes are beginning to emerge and floricanes are leafing out. Ferbam is no longer registered for use on raspberries. Tanos can be used prebloom for early season disease control. Other fungicides including Switch and Pristine will also have activity on cane diseases when applied for Botrytis grey mould control.

Watch for signs of raspberry crown borer: wilting or dying primocanes and areas of weak growth. The fall is now the important time for raspberry crown borer control as Diazinon is no longer registered. Altacor can be applied in late August or early September when crown borer eggs are hatching.

IPM workshops

• Strawberry & Raspberry IPM Workshop: Scout training workshop (free)

May 14, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm. 1283 Blueline rd. Simcoe, On. Click here to register.

CropIPM Modules

OMAFRA’s updated CropIPM is now available, an integrated pest management resource to assist growers and scouts with identification of crop pests and learn about their biology and management strategies.

Berry Crop Protection Update

These lists include new products and product changes for the 2024 season. Check out the Crop Protection Hub or the label (PMRA label search) for information on rate, preharvest interval, restricted entry interval, efficacy, and comments.

Label expansions & new products in 2023/2024

New products
Product (PCP#)	Crop	Pests
Insecticides & Miticides
Spiro (34247) IRAC 23 Spirodiclofen	Blueberry	Blueberry bud mite
Danitol (33817) IRAC 3 Fenpropathrin	Raspberry	Raspberry fruitworm
Suffoil-X (33099) NC Mineral Oil	Strawberry	Spider mites (rate change to 10 L/ 1000 L water)
Malathion 85 E (8372) IRAC 1B Malathion	Strawberry	Tarnished plant bug
Fungicides
Cevya (33405) FRAC 3     Mefentrifluconazole	Strawberry	Botrytis grey mould (suppression only)
	Blueberry, Haskap, Currants	Botrytis grey mould (suppression only), Mummy berry (suppression only), Septoria leaf spot
Inspire Super (30827) FRAC 3 + 9 Cyprodonil + Difenoconazole	Strawberry	Anthracnose (suppression only), Botrytis
Miravis Prime (33207) FRAC 7+12 Pydiflumetofen + Fludioxonil	Strawberry	Anthracnose
Empire WG (34691) FRAC 7+11       Boscalid + Pyraclostrobin	Blueberry	Botrytis grey mould, anthracnose, phomopsis
	Raspberry, blackberry	Botrytis grey mould
	Currant, gooseberry	Powdery mildew (suppression only), Botrytis grey mould
	Strawberry	Anthracnose, botrytis, common leaf spot, powdery mildew
Flint Extra (34962) FRAC 11   Trifloxystrobin	Strawberry	Powdery mildew
Captan 480 SC (34551) FRAC M Captan	Strawberry	Botrytis grey mould, common leaf spot
	Raspberry, blackberry	Botrytis grey mould, spur blight
	Blueberry	Botrytis grey mould, mummy berry
Problad Biofungicide (34050) FRAC BM BLAD polypeptide 20%	Raspberry	Botrytis grey mould
	Blueberry	Botrytis grey mould

Recent Re-evaluation Decisions for Berry Growers

Registration cancellations
Product (PCP #)	Crop (Pest)	Decision
Diazinon : Diazinon (11889)	Raspberry (crown borer)	Registration cancelled- use expires December 2023.
Fenbuconazole Indar (27294)	Blueberry (mummy berry)	Fenbuconazole discontinued. Last date of use is December 31, 2025.
Chlorpyrifos Products: Pyrinex (23705) , Sharphos (32768), Warhawk (29984)	Strawberry (cutworm)	Registration is cancelled for use on strawberry.  – last date of use by producers: December 10, 2023.
Dacthal W-75 (8963)	Strawberry (pre-emerge herbicide)	No longer available for sale. – last date of use by producers: December 31, 2023.

Additionally, production and sale of Poast Ultra will be discontinued beyond 2023 for all use patterns. Betamix has also been discontinued.  Growers can still use and purchase both these products while available.