Hello everyone,
This upcoming week’s weather forecast continues to bring double-digit
daytime temperatures along with frequent rainfall. These conditions
are ideal for crop fields as fruit buds continue advancing into higher
percentages of F2, with some fields progressing toward F3
and F4 stages (Figure 1).
We are still too early to observe open flowers (F5) across
most mainland production areas. As a result, many crop fields remain
vulnerable to Monilinia Blight infection, especially during upcoming
wet periods.
This will be a critical week for blight fungicide applications
across much of the province.
Below is this week’s regional spray outlook.
Cape Breton
·
Crop fields remain slightly early for
blight management at the beginning of the week.
·
Blight fungicide applications should be planned
toward late week or before the weekend, depending on local bud development
and weather conditions.
·
Pre-emergence herbicide applications
remain safe in sprout fields.
Antigonish, Guysborough, and Pictou
Counties
·
Crop fields have reached approximately 20–30%
F2, indicating early development stages.
·
There has been minimal to no blight
risk from recent conditions, but fields should begin receiving blight
protection by mid-week, particularly in Pictou County, where development is
advancing more quickly.
·
Pre-emergence herbicide applications
remain safe in sprout fields.
All Other Mainland Production Regions
- Early
and average fields have reached ~40% F2 or higher prior to the
weekend.
- If
blight fungicide has not yet been applied, plan to spray this week as
soon as weather conditions allow.
- Higher-elevation
or later-developing fields — especially in Cumberland and Colchester
Counties — are also expected to enter blight season this week.
- This
is the key spray week — please plan applications at
the first suitable opportunity.
Sprout Fields
- Sprout
fields are beginning to show early plant emergence.
- When
using Chikra or Ignite, scout fields carefully. These “hot”
herbicides may damage emerging shoots if new growth is present.
- Velpar,
Sinbar, and Spartan applications can continue this
week, but timing is becoming late if operations extend into next week.
We will provide another update before the end of the
week as conditions continue to evolve.
Have a great week — and let’s hope Mother Nature stays
calm during this busy spraying period.
Hugh Lyu
May 11, 2026
Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDDs and Crop F2 Stage Updates
We will continue
providing updates on F2 stage percentages across different production
regions as information becomes available throughout the season.
Table 1. Percentage of Wild Blueberry Floral
Bud F2 stage
light green (0-20% F2), dark green (20-30% F2), yellow
(30-40% F2) and red (40-100% F2)
|
Wild blueberry production regions, NS |
The average percentage of floral buds at
F2 |
|
|
|
|
Cape Breton |
15% F2 |
|
|
|
|
Cumberland County |
|
|
Halfway River |
>40% F2 |
|
Oxford |
>40% F2 |
|
Westchester Station |
>40% F2 |
|
|
|
|
Colchester County |
|
|
Murray Siding/ Truro |
>40% F2 |
|
Belmont |
>40% F2 |
|
Debert |
>40% F2 |
|
Londonderry/ Baseline Rd. |
>40% F2 |
|
Greenfield |
>40% F2 |
|
Camden |
>40% F2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South West Nova Scotia |
|
|
Weymouth |
>75%F2 |
|
Caledonia |
>70%F2 |
|
Annapolis |
>55%F2 |
|
|
|
|
Hants County |
|
|
Upper Rawdon |
>40% F2 |
|
|
|
|
Halifax County |
|
|
Dean |
>40% F2 |
|
|
|
|
Guysborough County |
25-30% F2 |
|
|
|
|
Pictou County |
30% F2 |
|
|
|
|
Antigonish County |
25-30% F2 |