2023 Updates and Seasonal Outlook for NS_ 10th Blight Line Post_ May 25
Advance Notice: this is the 2023 season’s last blight line
post. After that, I will still give updates and provide seasonal management
recommendations through this blog. In the next little while, you are going to
hear me talking a lot about frost, pollination, botrytis blight and weed management.
Growing Degree
Days (GDD) Summary and Plant Development Updates
Figure
1. GDD Summary, May 24, 2023
Sprout fields:
I hope no one is out there applying pre-emergence herbicides
(Chikara, Ignite, Spartan, Velpar etc.) in your sprout fields after today. Most
of the fields in the mainland are at and above 50% plant emergence. Now, you
can start thinking about fertilizer applications and a few post-emergence herbicides
(Callisto, Venture L, and Poast Ultra) to control goldenrods and grasses.
If you are thinking about Option+ Prism, now it is
time to apply those products before fescues produce seed heads. Fescues should
stop growing after Option is put on so don’t let them grow too far and produce
seeds.
Crop fields:
Most of the central fields should be over with this
year’s monilinia infection risk after today and tomorrow’s drizzles. The plant
stage of most fields is at pre-bloom with 5-10% bloom. Some early fields in
Cumberland are around 30-40% the most. Those fields with a bloom % of 0-40 or
above could be prone to frost damage. Some products, like Luna Tranquillity and
Merivon, should provide frost protection to blueberry blooms during a frost
event. This would be something to consider prior to a forecasted prost event, given
that those are also botrytis blossom blight industry-standard products.
Pre-Bloom
Some late fields in Pictou and Antigonish and fields
in Cape Breton still have another week to worry about the infection risk. Please
consider and apply products as needed.
I know I share this already but this resource is
important during this time of the year when we are facing challenges from
diseases and mother nature. I will share more information about frost and its’ risk
to blueberry blooms and potential yield reduction risk, why and how.
Frost Damage?
Disease Infection? Monilinia VS Botrytis?
Many growers are wondering how to tell the differences
between frost damage and disease infection on leaves and flowers. The UMaine
Wild Blueberry Extension team produced a very nice factsheet and this is a good
one to print and keep handy.
Here is a factsheet about frost events produced in
2018 when we faced a big frost event in that year. I am worrying about the full
moon (June 4, Sunday) when we might get a frost event and at that time, most of
the fields are in mid-bloom which will put all our crop fields and blooms at
risk.
