Growing Degree Days (GDD) Tracker
Introduction: Growing Degree Days (GDD) is a measure of heat accumulation based on the daily temperature. GDD helps to indicate and assess crop growth stages such as plant emergence, bud burst, flowering and crop maturity during the growing stage. We start to calculate GDD depending on the crop and their GDD models. From the start calculation date, each date will generate a GDD value based on its daily temperature. The accumulation of daily GDD will help to determine where your wild blueberry field stage is at, compared to the model we used in Nova Scotia. Here is a factsheet to help you understand GDD in Wild Blueberry Production: https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Understanding-Growing-Degree-Days-in-Wild-Blueberry-Production.pdf.
Table 1. Wild Lowbush Blueberry Growing Degree Days Model (White 2012)
Non-bearing (Sprout) Year |
Bearing (Fruit) Year |
||
Stages |
Cum. Degree-days |
Stages |
Cum. Degree-days |
Plant emergence- start |
270 GDD |
Stems with open flowers- start |
390 GDD |
Plant emergence- 10% |
290 GDD |
Stems with open flowers- 10% |
412 GDD |
Plant emergence- 25% |
325 GDD |
Stems with open flowers- 25% |
440 GDD |
Plant emergence- 50% |
405 GDD |
Stems with open flowers- 50% |
480 GDD |
Plant emergence- 90% |
750 GDD |
Stems with open flowers- 90% |
600 GDD |
|
|
|
|
Tip Dieback- start |
690 GDD |
|
|
Tip Dieback- 10% |
834 GDD |
|
|
Tip Dieback- 25% |
940 GDD |
|
|
Tip Dieback- 50% |
1080 GDD |
|
|
Tip Dieback- 90% |
1475 GDD |
|
|
*GDD start calculation date: April 1; Base T= 0 °C; GDD calculation method: averaging method (GDD = Tmean – Tbase)
*GDD thresholds in this table were updated on April 24, 2022, from Dr. Scott White’s research data
*Example to interpret this table: wild blueberry plant emergence starts in sprout fields at around 270 GDD
Please compare your current GDD from
the interested location (weather station) to the above table and determine what
stage your fields are at. Please note, that variation happens so please make your
management decision after you visit your fields.
Figure 1. Growing Degree Days from Weather Stations located in Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Fields (running from April 1 to Oct 31)
*Please use the zoom-in
and zoom-out functions to change the size of the map and you will be able to
see the exact locations of weather stations.
*Click on the weather station (location) you are interested to know, it will show you the most current accumulation GDD on the date reported.
*Click on the link under
"Current Conditions", and you would be able to see more detailed weather
information from the station.
Introduction: Wild blueberry buds are at a
susceptible stage when 40% or more of flower buds are at the F2 stage. Current
recommendations suggest that fungicide application be considered to protect
crops when fields reach 40% F2 or above and weather conditions (temperature and
wetness period) are conducive to infection.
The below map
gives growers ideas of F2 bud stage development in various production areas in
NS. Those data were generated based on my observation and reports from growers
in those regions. Please check your field and determine your management plant. If
you would like to share information with me about the blueberry plant growth
stage in your areas, please contact me at 902-890-0472 or email me, at hlyu@perennia.ca.
I appreciate your information.
Figure 2.
Percentage of Wild Blueberry Fruit Bud F2 Stage Tracker in NS (running during floral bud development period)
*Please use the zoom-in and zoom-out functions to change the size of the map and you would be able to see more bud development in different data available locations.
*Click on the location you are interested to know, it will show you % F2 in that area and location (data collected date)
*Please note, light green (0-20% F2), dark green (20-30% F2), yellow
(30-40% F2) and red (40-100% F2). Once you see yellow points in your interested
areas, plan and watch for the weather; if you see red points in your interested
areas, plan to apply products to avoid disease infection in those fields.