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Processing Crop Update: Tomato & Pepper Edition Season Summary 2003 The Processing Crop Updates are prepared through the season. Would you like to be added to the e-mail distribution list? 2003 Processing Crop Update Topics - Tomatoes and Peppers 2003 Processing Crop Update Topics - Tomatoes and Peppers
Read the latest Processing Crop Updates ("Tomato and Pepper" or "Sweet Corn, Beans, and Pea" editions) at http://apps.omafra.gov.on.ca/scripts/english/crops/agriphone/index.asp. | Top of Page |
Sampling of 2003 Articles from the Tomato and Pepper Processing Crop Update: Wireworms overwinter below the frost line in the soil. When temperatures warm up in the spring, they move towards the soil surface to feed, causing damage by cutting underground portions of the stem and roots. Most wireworm species take 2 to 5 years to complete their development, so identify problem fields and plan control strategies in advance of the crop. The problem is usually worse in the second year out of sod, after high grass-weed pressure, or when cereals are frequently in the rotation. They are also generally more prevalent in sandier soils, especially on the knolls. There is no treatment for wireworm after the crop is planted. Orthene is labeled for tomatoes as a transplant water treatment for soil insects including wireworm. Look at the situation carefully, however, as Orthene may damage transplants on light soils, and Admire may still be the preferred choice for the in-furrow treatment, even where wireworms are present. You can scout for wireworms starting in mid-April. A few weeks before planting, choose one or two high risk sites in the field (i.e., sandy knolls, heavy grass infestations) and establish two bait stations at each. Dig a hole at each station, approximately 6" (15 cm) wide and 2-3" (5-8 cm) deep. Bury a nylon mesh bag with 1 cup equal parts untreated and soaked corn and wheat or freshly cut potatoes at the bottom of the station. Mound the soil over the bait to prevent standing water. Return to the stations a few days before planting to sift through the bag contents to record the number of larvae found per station. Generally, one or more larvae per bait station indicates the need for control. Cutworms - black cutworm moths fly into Ontario on strong south winds, usually from April to May, but they can arrive as early as March. The females lay eggs, usually in areas of the field with weeds or heavy residue, where soil moisture is high, usually before spring tillage has occurred. Larvae feed from early May to mid-June. Scout for cutworm in areas of the field that had weed patches just prior to tillage. Young larvae often cut plants off at ground level. Dig around the affected plant to find the culprit and note its size. Cutworm over an inch (2.5 cm) long will soon stop feeding and pupate; they are also more difficult to kill. If cutworms are still small, and numerous enough to warrant control, there are some insecticides registered. Consider spot treating only the areas of the field where scouting has shown a problem. In tomatoes, if Admire is planned in-furrow, other treatments should not be necessary. Orthene is registered on cutworms in tomatoes as a transplant water treatment. Lorsban 4E can be applied on green pepper as a pre- or post plant treatment. Pounce is registered on peppers for cutworms attacking transplants, but is only registered on climbing cutworms in tomatoes. Matador can be applied to tomatoes (up to the 5 leaf stage) to control cutworms. Apply these surface treatments in the evening, preferably under warm, moist conditions, as cutworms are active at night and these treatments will only control surface-feeding larvae. Do not disturb the soil for 5 days after treatment. Read the labels carefully before applying any pest control product. | Top of Page |
Processing Crop Update: Tomato and Pepper - July 30, 2003 Bacterial disease showed up in many tomato fields this past season. In many cases, significant losses were experienced. Many growers are rightly asking whether their copper applications did any good. Well, I don't have the last word on that, unfortunately, but I will answer the question with more questions. First, remember the current recommendations for copper use: In the greenhouse:
In the field:
Now the questions: Do you know that your transplant grower followed the copper schedule rigorously? Any gaps in the copper program would allow any bacteria present to multiply very quickly. Did your transplant grower maximize the effectiveness of the copper by applying it with low water volumes? Did you put your first copper spray on within 7 days of transplanting? Did you repeat copper applications every 7 days (more often in warm, wet conditions) until July 1? It is true that copper is not a highly effective bacterial control and must be reapplied at very short intervals to have any effectiveness. If bacteria are present and conditions are favourable for their growth, then gaps in the program put the crop at risk. If you stretch the intervals, allowing the bacteria an opening, then your efforts may have been wasted. Do you think it's impossible to follow this spray program in the field when you are busy with field work and planting tomatoes and your other crops? Are you willing to find a way? It may not be the solution we want, but right now it's all we've got. | Top of Page |
Processing Crop Update: Tomato and Pepper - July 30, 2003 White "bird's-eye" spots on tomato fruit are usually associated with bacterial canker, but realize that in the early stages, bacterial spot lesions can also have a white halo. In bacterial spot, the white halo disappears as the spot develops. A good indication is to look at the leaf symptoms to see if they show the spots of bacterial spot or the "firing" or blight of bacterial canker.
A sweet corn, pea, and snap bean Processing Crop Update is also available, prepared by Elaine Roddy, OMAF Vegetable Crop Specialist, Ridgetown. | Top of Page | |
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