In this bulletin:
- Crop & pest update
- Spotted wing drosophila
- What’s Growing ON? Podcast
Strawberry & haskap harvest continues, raspberry harvest is beginning, and blueberry harvest will begin this week.
Berry Bulletin July 3rd
Strawberries:
Harvest continues on mid-season varieties and the first Valley Sunset are being harvested. Malwina is beginning to ripen. Demand remains strong and pick-your-own has been going very well from all reports.
Hot & dry weather continues and irrigation is needed in many areas. Rebecca Shortt has an article on our blog on How to Ensure You Are Getting the Most Crop Per Drop (URL: https://onfruit.ca/2020/06/30/how-to-ensure-you-are-getting-the-most-crop-per-drop/).
Day-neutrals are beginning to bloom for the next crop.
Insects: Spotted wing drosophila is active in many areas. After harvest renovate and mow the plants as soon as possible to reduce SWD populations building up if there are other berry crops or later strawberry varieties on the farm. See more details on SWD management below.
Potato Leafhoppers: Leafhopper nymphs and hopper burn (leaf curling and yellowing) have been found in day-neutral fields. Monitor for nymphs on the underside of leaves in new fields and day neutrals. Cntrol may be necessary if there are 1-2 nymphs per leaf. In new strawberry plantings choose products that will control aphids and leafhoppers, such as Sivanto Prime, Assail, Admire, Cormoran, Cygon or Lagon.
Two-spotted spider mites: Spider mites can be found in day-neutrals and June-bearing fields.
Cyclamen mites: Consider cyclamen mite management as you plan for renovation. If you find mites or symptoms spray that entire variety or block. Check new fields as well – work in new fields first.
If a miticide is needed after renovation:
- After renovation Vegol crop oil can be applied in a high water volume to ensure thorough coverage.
- Agri-mek is registered for Two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) post-harvest. If you are applying agri-mek for TSSM you will achieve some efficacy on cyclamen mite.
- Apply Agri-mek once there is new growth after mowing, which could be approximately 5 days after mowing. Apply Agri-mek at 225 mL/ha in 750-1000L water /ha, with a non-ionic surfactant at .1-.5%. Monitor the water pH.
- Slow down and get thorough coverage of the plants and crowns.
- Apply Agri-mek under slow-drying conditions to improve uptake into the leaves.
- Do not apply sinbar after applying Agri-mek. Wait 5-7 days after Agri-mek before applying sinbar.
- Avoid spreading cyclamen mites to new fields; work in new fields before moving to old, infested fields.
Disease: Powdery mildew, angular leaf spot and anthracnose were reported this week.
Angular Leafspot can be found in June bearing fields, turning the calyx black and unmarketable. Powdery mildew infections can be found in over-wintered day-neutral fields. Check the lower leaf surface for white patches of the fungus. Once powdery mildew is found begin a regular spray program.
Anthracnose : Although the weather forecast is fairly dry it looks like there could be some rain today in some areas (eastern Ontario). Warm, wet weather during bloom favours anthracnose development, so make sure that as day-neutrals begin to bloom and ripen to maintain a fungicide when these conditions are present. Watch for brown, dried blooms and brown lesions on the berries.
Switch (9+12), Diplomat (19), Pristine (7+11), Cabrio (11), & Quadris Top (11+3) are registered for control of anthracnose. Anthracnose resistance to group 11s has been identified in Ontario. Rotate the use of group 11s with different groups, and tank mix with a group M fungicide for botrytis control to avoid developing resistance.
Raspberries:
Raspberry harvest has begun in the southwest and is beginning in southern Ontario this week with pick-your-own beginning next week. Berries are ripening in eastern Ontario.
Raspberry cane borer has been found in a couple fields. This borer makes 2 rings around the top of the cane and leave the tips to wilt and die back. Cut any affected primocane tips 2cm below the lower girdle.
Continue to watch for potato leafhoppers in raspberries, especially primocane fruiting raspberries. Monitor for nymphs on the underside of leaves in new fields and day neutrals. Spray when nymphs are present and symptoms are evident.
Blueberries:
Blueberry harvest will begin in the next next week in early areas. The crop is beginning to size nicely.
As management for SWD begins remember that sprays are needed when SWD is active and ripe fruit is present. If possible, do not spray late blueberry varieties until they are close to harvest. There are limited options for blueberry growers so if you can leave blocks unsprayed until necessary the more options you will have later on. Fruit is not susceptible to SWD until it is turning colour.
Spotted wing drosophila:
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) has been identified in Essex, Kent, Elgin, Norfolk, Brant, Niagara, Oxford, Halton, Durham and Northumberland- many of these sites have found SWD for 2-3 weeks. The counts this year are similar to 2017, which was an early and challenging year for SWD management. Altough the forecast is hot and dry, which SWD doesn’t like, they are active and pressure could increase quickly. Growers need to start managing for SWD now where ripe fruit is present.
Late June-bearing strawberry varieties may need to have an insecticide application this year. Exirel may be a good choice as Exirel will also control aphids, which should be managed regularly.
For strawberry growers:
- Late season varieties could be at risk, depending on your location.
- Encourage clean picking.
- Renovate as soon as harvest is complete. Do not wait for late varieties to be harvested to renovate earlier blocks.
- Overwintered day-neutral fields are more at risk compared to new plantings, because extra foliage and plant debris in older fields make clean harvest more difficult. As you drop fields at the end of the season, mow them or do something to destroy fruit.
Summer fruiting raspberry growers also need to spray for SWD. If harvest is beginning and SWD is present in your area, insecticides are needed. Regular, thorough and clean harvesting is very important for SWD management.
Growers can do a salt water test to evalute fruit quality. Check out this short video on doing a Salt water test (URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X_F3bHiOSg).
Check the Onfruit.ca blog for full details on counts which will be updated weekly and a list of registered products.
What’s growing ON? Podcast:
Check out the new podcast What’s Growing On? The next episode coming next week covers anthracnose management in strawberries. This podcast also includes episodes from other crop specialists, including vegetables, apples, and tender fruit. All episodes can be found under the Podcast tab on the blog homepage or at onfruit.ca/podcast.
You can also search for episodes on your favourite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
