Table of Contents
Strawberries
Renovation is well underway on most varieties- only Malwina is being harvested at some farms. Growers are mowing, applying herbicides, miticides, and fertilizer. Don’t forget to apply a miticide where needed after mowing for cyclamen mite control- this is a good time to reach the mites usually protected in the young leaves and crowns.
Day-neutral volumes are increasing. Maintain regular clean harvests in day-neutrals to manage SWD.
New Plantings: Potato leafhoppers are abundant and injury can be found in new plantings and day-neutral fields. Look for potato leafhopper nymphs on the underside of the leaves, and control for nymphs where present. Cygon, Lagon, Assail, Sivanto Prime, and Cormoran applied for aphids will provide some control of leafhoppers as well, so these could be a good choice if both pests are present. If you have not applied an aphid spray in your new fields it is important to protect those fields now.
Watch for cyclamen mites and powdery mildew in new plantings as well.
Day-neutrals: Monitor for leafhoppers and tarnished plant bug regularly. The threshold for tarnished plant bug is approximately 1 nymph in 4 flower clusters. Beleaf and Rimon are good options to apply to small nymphs, and are softer on beneficial insects. Maintain regular fungicide applications for powdery mildew, botrytis, and anthracnose. Use the Strawberry Disease Decision Support System to help time and choose fungicides. There is a low risk of anthracnose and botrytis infection for the next couple days in many areas!
Switch (9+12, cyprodonil +fludioxonil) and Miravis Prime (7+12, pydiflumetofen +fludioxonil) are the best products to use once harvest starts for anthracnose control. Note there is a maximum of 3 applications of fludioxonil-containing products (Switch, Button, Miravis Prime, Scholar) per year, and 3 applications of cyprodonil-containing products (Switch, Inspire Super) per year. Other options for anthracnose control are Diplomat and Quadris Top.
Blueberries
Many growers are picking blueberries now and pick-your-own operations are open. Maintain regular insecticide applications through harvest for SWD control, and encourage clean picking. Exirel should control both SWD and Japanese beetles if needed.
Raspberries
Raspberry harvest continues and there are buds and some bloom on fall-bearing raspberries. Disease control has been a challenge this year with all the rain. SWD continues to be challenging- maintain regular insecticide coverage for SWD, and pick every 2 days if possible. Re-apply after ½ inch of rain. The most rainfast SWD products for raspberries include Exirel, group 5s (Delegate, Entrust, Success), and group 3s. For more information on rainfastness, see Pesticides and Rain: Ensuring Strength in Storms.
Spotted wing drosophila monitoring
All growers should be managing for spotted wing drosophila regularly. See previous bulletins for recommendations on management.
Tissue sampling
- Late-July to early August is a good time for tissue sampling for a nutrient analysis in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries:
Calendar date | Crop | Plant part sampled | Approximate number to collect |
Late July | Raspberry | Fully expanded leaves from fruiting cane | 100 leaves throughout sampling area |
Late July-early August | Blueberry | Mature mid-shoot leaves of current year growth | 100 leaves throughout sampling area |
Early August | Non-fruiting strawberry | Fully expanded, recently matured leaf -discard petiole immediately | 50 leaves throughout sampling area |
A complete list of the foliar nutrient sufficiency range for fruit crops (apple, berry, grape, tender fruit) can be found at: Table 3. Nutrient Concentration Sufficiency Ranges for Fruit Crops
Where to send samples:
Several Ontario commercial testing laboratories can provide you with leaf analysis. Their contact information can be found on the OMAFRA website. For additional information assessing nutrient needs in fruit crops refer to Soil Management, Fertilizer Use, Crop Nutrition and Cover Crops for Fruit Production.
NASGA summer tour
The North American Strawberry Growers Association Tour is scheduled for August 13-15 in Massachusetts. Check the NASGA website for more information and to register.