Crop Update

Strawberries

Renovation continues as growers begin to mow later varieties including Valley Sunset and Malwina. Growers are mowing, narrowing rows, applying herbicides, miticides, and fertilizer. The goal of renovation is to have health plants by mid-August when flowers buds are initiated for next year. 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 fields:

• Insect pressure is low in fields where insecticides have been applied regularly for aphid control but continue to keep an eye on new leaves for aphids. Viruses are still a threat to strawberries and it is important that growers remain vigilant with aphid control in new and established plantings.
• Watch for cyclamen mites and powdery mildew in new plantings as well.
• Continue to train runners and manage weeds.

Day-neutrals:

• Scout regularly for thrips, spider mites, tarnished plant bug, and cyclamen mite. Pay close attention for cyclamen mite in over-wintered fields especially.
• Maintain regular clean harvests in day-neutrals to manage SWD, and cool fruit as soon as possible after harvest. Cormoran and Malathion will control TPB, leafhoppers and SWD.
• Maintain regular fungicide applications for powdery mildew, botrytis, and anthracnose. As always, the Strawberry Disease Decision Support System is available to time fungicide applications for botrytis and anthracnose.
• Botrytis fungicide resistance to multiple active ingredients has been identified in Ontario and other regions. Rotate between multiple FRAC groups that are active on Botrytis.

Raspberries

Summer-fruiting raspberry harvest is going well as later varieties begin to be picked. Fall-bearing raspberries are beginning to bloom.  SWD management continues to be the priority in raspberries at this point for all raspberry growers. Pick regularly, and remove culled fruit.

Blueberries

Blueberry harvest is in full swing and pick-your-own operations are open. If you have had scale damage in the past watch for scale crawlers with black sticky tape to time insecticides. Japanese beetles have begun to show up in blueberries. Exirel will control SWD and Japanese beetle if needed.  Maintain regular insecticide coverage for SWD control, and encourage clean picking once harvest starts.  

Spotted Wing Drosophila Monitoring

Ripe and ripening berry crops are at risk of SWD damage across Ontario. SWD traps were set up in Norfolk, Elgin, Halton, Haldimand, and Hamilton this season. Additionally, a team from Boréal College is currently monitoring SWD in Temiskaming, Nipissing and Sudbury regions, which has been monitoring and catching SWD since the week of July 3^rd. All berry growers should be managing SWD in ripe and ripening crops. Thank you to the consultants, researchers, and OMAFA summer students for monitoring traps and sharing results!

• Apply an insecticide every 5-7 days.
  • Using the best products first will help knock the population back down at the beginning of the season. The most efficacious products include Exirel, Delegate, Success, Harvanta and Cormoran.
  • Reapply after ½ inch of rain.
  • Use products from different groups.
  • Spray in the morning (6-10am) or in the evening (6-10 pm) when SWD is active.
  • Do not spray in temperatures above 25C.
  • Pyrethroid insecticides (Up-Cyde) will not work well in hot weather and will cause an increase in mites. Save these products for later when weather cools off and mite pressure is low.
• Keep alleys clean, and destroy unmarketable fruit
• Pick regularly and clean
• Cool fruit as quickly as possible after harvest
• Make the environment less favourable to SWD- prune the canopy and manage water to reduce humidity (repair leaking drop lines).

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 OMAFA website. For additional information assessing nutrient needs in fruit crops refer to Soil Management, Fertilizer Use, Crop Nutrition and Cover Crops for Fruit Production.

Upcoming events

Mark your calendars for these exciting events coming up for berry growers!

• August 12-13– NASGA Summer Tour, Nova Scotia
• September 3– Strawberry High Tunnel Grower Day, 1-4 pm, EZ Grow Farms, email research@ontarioberries.com to register.  
• September 4– BGO’s Annual Twilight Meeting, 4-8 pm, Howe Family Farms. Dinner is free for BGO members, and $35 for non-members. Email info@ontarioberries.com to register.