In blueberries, Chateau should be used in early spring, before weeds emerge, and before blueberry bud break. Do not apply after budbreak unless using hooded or shielded application equipment,. Ensure spray drift will not come in contact with crop fruit or foliage.  Do not apply to highbush blueberries established less than 2 years. Do not apply within 7 days of harvest. Maximum 2 applications per growing season at least 30 days apart.  PS: I don’t think you should apply this product over mulch (PF).  

Strawberry Update: 

• There are still some fields where straw has not been removed. If plants have started to grow under the straw, they will lose vigour, and plants also be easily damaged when straw is removed. 
• If no herbicide was applied last fall before mulch, consider a low rate of Sinbar in early spring but take note that plants are most susceptible to Sinbar at this timing.  Grasses can be controlled post emergence with Venture or Poast. 

Raspberry Update : 

• Apply pre-emergent herbicides ASAP. 
• Fertilizer and early season cane disease are also on the list of things to do.  Lime sulphur is helpful on dormant canes to reduce overwintering disease. However, if buds are beyond ¼ inch green forget this spray.  Plan to protect new growth and primocanes with Tanos at least twice before bloom. 

Blueberry Update:  

• In older plantings, scale insects may be building up. Use a high volume, dormant oil spray before bud break to control this problem. Avoid application of oil before or after frost. 
• Beware of over-applying nitrogen in new plantings. Blueberries grow very slowly for the first few years.  Over application of N will encourage shoot growth that will likely die back in winter. 
• In established plantings watch for dried up fruit mummies on the soil surface and for apothecia where mummyberry spores are produced.  The window for mummyberry control is between now and first bloom, depending on rainfall and when the spores are being discharged.  

The Ontario Highbush Blueberry Growers are planning a meeting Friday May 29, 2009, at Barrie Hill Farms. Guest speaker will be Mark Longstroth, from Michigan State University Extension. Please contact Celia Klassen at klassenb@xplornet.com .

Saskatoon berries wanted: If you are looking for a new market for your saskatoon berries, there is a buyer looking for product. Contact Troy Isaac, Direct Grocer Inc.705-759-1375 troyisaac@shaw.ca. 

I often get calls for clients looking for various types of fruit. Usually I refer buyers to the OBGA website, or the Harvest Canada website, where you can search farms by the crops that are grown.  Keep your information up to date!