Strawberries
Renovated fields are looking good with plenty of new growth. Mid-August is a good time to apply more fertilizer- 25-30 kg/ha of nitrogen in both new and established fields. Don’t forget about aphids in renovated fields- check new leaves and plan an insecticide if aphid pressure is increasing (about 15 aphids on 60 leaves).
New plantings: New fields are filling in with plenty of runners. Powdery mildew and leaf diseases are present in new plantings, in some varieties more than others, and a fungicide may be needed. Choose a product that will control both powdery mildew and other leaf diseases if present in the field.
Leaf analysis can help assess the nutrient status of strawberry plants and more accurately determine fertilizer requirements for nutrients. Take leaf samples by August 20 for non-fruiting plantings. Collect at least 50 fully expanded, recently matured leaves with petioles removed.
Cyclamen mite: walk new and renovated fields now watching for cyclamen mite damage (small, crinkled, toughened leaves). A miticide can be applied now if needed, or mark areas or fields where control will be needed early next spring.
Day-neutrals: Disease pressure is challenging in day-neutrals in areas that have had regular rains. In addition to regular fungicides:
- Remove diseased fruit from plants and if possible, remove from field
- Work in older fields, and/or diseased fields last
- Sanitize between fields (eg. equipment, tools, hands)
In situations where pressure is high and a lot of fruit rot is present workers should strip off any diseased blooms or berries, spray captan, and begin harvest again in 6 days.
Remember to not rely on group 11s alone for anthracnose control- there is anthracnose resistance to group 11s in Ontario.
Continue to manage and monitor for tarnished plant bug, potato leafhopper and two-spotted spider mite.
Blueberries
Blueberry harvest is slowing down as growers move onto later varieties. It is very important for growers to maintain a tight SWD spray schedule and re-apply after a rain.
Raspberries
Growers are pruning summer-fruiting raspberries, and fall-bearing raspberries are beginning to be harvested. SWD is the main pest at this point in the season. Clean up summer-fruiting raspberries if there are other berries on the farm to help control SWD. Keep fall-bearing fields as clean as possible as harvest begins. Pick every 2 days if possible.
Late-August to early-September is a good time to apply Altacor for raspberry crown borer, to target hatching eggs. Make sure to get good coverage. A second application can be made in mid-October. Spring applications are another option for control; these applications target the larvae before they move into the crown. Note that Diazinon is no longer available for use on raspberries, so Altacor is your only option for raspberry crown borer.
Berry Growers of Ontario Twilight Meeting
The BGO Twilight Meeting will be on September 10, 2024, 4:00-8:00 pm, hosted by Brooks Farms, 1122 Ashworth Road, Mt. Albert. Registration required- email info@ontarioberries.com to register.
Food Safety and Growth Initiative
The Food Safety and Growth Initiative (the Initiative) provides funding to small agri-food businesses to:
- modernize their food safety systems
- adopt new food safety and traceability equipment, technologies and standards
- stimulate growth in the agriculture and food sector
Funding for the Initiative comes from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year (2023 to 2028) investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments. Up to $5,000,000 has been allocated for the Initiative.
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Strawberries
Renovated fields are looking good with plenty of new growth. Mid-August is a good time to apply more fertilizer- 25-30 kg/ha of nitrogen in both new and established fields. Don’t forget about aphids in renovated fields- check new leaves and plan an insecticide if aphid pressure is increasing (about 15 aphids on 60 leaves).
New plantings: New fields are filling in with plenty of runners. Powdery mildew and leaf diseases are present in new plantings, in some varieties more than others, and a fungicide may be needed. Choose a product that will control both powdery mildew and other leaf diseases if present in the field.
Leaf analysis can help assess the nutrient status of strawberry plants and more accurately determine fertilizer requirements for nutrients. Take leaf samples by August 20 for non-fruiting plantings. Collect at least 50 fully expanded, recently matured leaves with petioles removed.
Cyclamen mite: walk new and renovated fields now watching for cyclamen mite damage (small, crinkled, toughened leaves). A miticide can be applied now if needed, or mark areas or fields where control will be needed early next spring.
Day-neutrals: Disease pressure is challenging in day-neutrals in areas that have had regular rains. In addition to regular fungicides:
In situations where pressure is high and a lot of fruit rot is present workers should strip off any diseased blooms or berries, spray captan, and begin harvest again in 6 days.
Remember to not rely on group 11s alone for anthracnose control- there is anthracnose resistance to group 11s in Ontario.
Continue to manage and monitor for tarnished plant bug, potato leafhopper and two-spotted spider mite.
Blueberries
Blueberry harvest is slowing down as growers move onto later varieties. It is very important for growers to maintain a tight SWD spray schedule and re-apply after a rain.
Raspberries
Growers are pruning summer-fruiting raspberries, and fall-bearing raspberries are beginning to be harvested. SWD is the main pest at this point in the season. Clean up summer-fruiting raspberries if there are other berries on the farm to help control SWD. Keep fall-bearing fields as clean as possible as harvest begins. Pick every 2 days if possible.
Late-August to early-September is a good time to apply Altacor for raspberry crown borer, to target hatching eggs. Make sure to get good coverage. A second application can be made in mid-October. Spring applications are another option for control; these applications target the larvae before they move into the crown. Note that Diazinon is no longer available for use on raspberries, so Altacor is your only option for raspberry crown borer.
Berry Growers of Ontario Twilight Meeting
The BGO Twilight Meeting will be on September 10, 2024, 4:00-8:00 pm, hosted by Brooks Farms, 1122 Ashworth Road, Mt. Albert. Registration required- email info@ontarioberries.com to register.
Food Safety and Growth Initiative
The Food Safety and Growth Initiative (the Initiative) provides funding to small agri-food businesses to:
Funding for the Initiative comes from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year (2023 to 2028) investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments. Up to $5,000,000 has been allocated for the Initiative.
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