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Strawberries Strawberries: Strawberry harvest continues to be slow and many growers are disappointed with the yields. Mostly these are fields that did not look good from the start of the season, but there are also several reports of the variety Wendy collapsing in the wetter soils. Adding the problem is the extreme amount of sunscald that developed early this week. Sunscald often shows up on ripening fruit when hot sunny weather follows a long stretch of cool, cloudy conditions. Mira, which produces fruit on long trusses that extend out from the canopy, is particularly susceptible to this disorder. Fruit turns pale and very soft on the side exposed to the sun (Figure 1). Eventually the damaged area turns dry and light brown (Figure 2). Extremely warm weather followed by splashing rain will favour infection by anthracnose fruit rot (Figure 3). This disease is starting to show up now and where present, will be much worse a few days after a rain. The fungicides which control anthracnose include Pristine and Cabrio. Switch is another good fungicide choice at this time. It is highly rated for Botrytis control but has broad spectrum activity against other diseases. Growers with June bearing varieties on plastic mulch, as well as any grower who has noticed anthracnose damage in the past, should be taking precautions now.
Figure 1. Pale sunburned tissue caused by extreme heat.
Figure 2. Sunburned tissue turns dry and papery.
Figure 3. Black spots on strawberry fruit caused by anthracnose. Raspberries: In contrast to strawberries, the raspberry crop is looking generally very good. Water needs are high during the green fruit stage of raspberry and canes commonly collapse at this time with the stress of crop development. Make sure that raspberries are well irrigated, which means an inch or two a week on lighter soil types. Since too much water can also cause problems, check the soil moisture levels frequently with a trowel, tensiometer or soil moisture reader. Blueberries: Insecticides to control cranberry and cherry fruitworm should be applied by now; a follow-up application is required if the number of moths goes up again in traps. Traps for blueberry maggot should be installed shortly. Be sure to monitor new plantings carefully for this pest, as it can come into a region on infested potted planting stock. Watch for late germinating grasses that escaped earlier treatments. Foxtail and crabgrass are common problems in blueberry fields at harvest because these species germinate late. Poast can be applied up to 15 days before harvest for grass control in blueberries. FEEDBACK: if you have questions or comments about this information, questions or suggestions for the next bulletin, please contact me. 519-426-2238 or pam.fisher@ontario.ca July 8 and 9, 2009 - Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days, Ridgetown http://www.diagnosticdays.ca/ July 14-16, 2009: Ontario Weed Tour (tour of research plots Tuesday July 14 (Woodstock 9 am, Exeter 1 pm), Wednesday July 15 (Harrow 9 am, Ridgetown 1 pm), Thursday July 16 (Elora 9 am). There are no berry trials on this tour but information for vegetables and field crops, as well as organic management options for vegetables and useful information on herbicides that applies to many crops. Many of the stops include discussion and self guided tours. Contact Kristen Callow kristen.callow@ontario.ca or NEW July 23, 2009: Day neutral and plasticulture strawberry production. Meet with researchers John Zandstra and August 11-12, 2009 - North American Strawberry Growers Association Summer Tour, in the Chicago area. For more information visit www.nasga.org or contact September 16, 2009 Ontario Berry Growers’ Association season wrap-up and farm tour: Whittamores Farm, Markham. Contact
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