Strawberries: Renovation is ongoing as the last of the Malwina are being harvested. Complete renovation as early as possible, as fruit bud initiation begins around mid-August and you should have large, healthy plants by then. Apply 50 kg of N per hectare at renovation, and another application of 25-35 kg N in mid-August.
Day-neutral volumes are increasing this week and beginning to be harvested in Eastern Ontario.
Insects: In new plantings monitor for strawberry aphids, potato leafhoppers and cyclamen mites, and manage when necessary. When renovating assess the field for any cyclamen mite damage, and plan to apply an insecticide for aphids once new growth is present. Continue monitoring for tarnished plant bugs, potato leafhoppers, and two-spotted spider mites in day-neutrals. Regular SWD sprays will be needed in day-neutral fields if you cannot keep up with regular harvests, especially in overwintering day-neutral fields.
Cyclamen mites: mites have been found in new fields. It is important to monitor new fields for cyclamen mites as well as established fields. Keep an eye on the population. If applying a miticide is necessary in new or established fields plan to alternate between Agri-mek and Vegol crop oil for resistance management.
If a miticide is needed it is very important to slow down and get thorough coverage of the plants and crowns. Check previous bulletins for more recommendations, pictures and precautions on managing cyclamen mites. Beneficial mites can also be trialed in small areas for cyclamen mite control.
Two-spotted spider mites: mites are beginning to be found in day-neutral fields. Avoid applying Mako for SWD as Mako is hard on beneficials and may lead to an outbreak. Oberon, Nealta, Agri-mek, or Purespray Green spray or Vegol Crop Oil can be applied for TSSM. For all products apply in a high-volume spray to ensure thorough coverage.
Disease:
Powdery mildew and anthracnose have been found in some day-neutral fields. It is very important that day neutrals are protected for botrytis, anthracnose and powdery mildew regularly. Ensure there is a product for anthracnose included in the tank mix: Diplomat, Pristine, Switch, Cabrio and Quadris Top are registered for Anthracnose control. Resistance to group 11 products (Cabio, Pristine, Quadris Top) has been confirmed in Ontario. Always include a group M fungicide in the tank mix with these products for resistance management.
For powdery mildew alternate between fungicides from different families.
Blueberries: Harvest continues this week, and there is a good crop of blueberries so far. Regular sprays are now needed for SWD control in varieties that are being harvested or turning colour. Exirel and Malathion will control SWD and Japanese beetle.
Raspberries:. Harvest will end shortly in southern Ontario. There is a good crop of raspberries and keeping up with harvest is the main challenge this year. Raspberries are very attractive to SWD so it is important that you keep your fields as clean as possible and apply an insecticide weekly.
Primocane-fruiting raspberries are ripening and harvest will being in 7-10 days. Raspberry cane borer has also been found in raspberries. When these are found in your field make sure to prune out the damage about 2 cm below the lowest girdle. If there is tunnelling damage below this point cut further down until there is no more damage.
Altacor can be applied post-harvest for Raspberry Crown borer. Apply in a high-volume spray to ensure thorough coverage to the base of the primocanes.
Note Capture is no longer registered in Ontario.
Spotted Wing Drosophila: SWD has been caught in all areas we are monitoring: Chatham- Kent, Essex, Elgin, Norfolk, Hamilton-Wentworth, Niagara, Wellington, Halton, Durham, Northumberland and Ottawa-Carleton county and numbers are increasing.
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