This post was contributed to by Drs. Sarah Jandricic and Chevonne Dayboll.
Summer is in full swing, and so too are garden mums! Although generally an easy crop, there several tweaks you can make to help save headaches AND money.
This post has information to help you optimize your irrigation, fertilizer and pest management programs in garden mums.
Continue reading “Garden Mums – 2020 Production and Protection Tips”
A new pesticide is available for greenhouse ornamental production in Canada that has shown potential for effective suppression of difficult-to-control thrips and whitefly species.
But to keep this new tool effective, growers will have to use this chemical wisely. Keep reading for efficacy data on ornamental crops and best management practices for incorporating this chemical into your IPM toolbox.
Continue reading “New Chemical Control Option for Thrips and Whitefly”
It will soon be that time of year again, when Japanese beetle adults begin to fly. However, the cooler spring means pupation may take longer. So what does that mean for timing of control products?
This post answers those questions and provides updated infographics for JB control for those exporting to non-JB areas.
With the holiday season over, it’s time to turn our attention to Spring bedding crops. Although here for a brief window, the diversity of these crops means you’re bound to encounter some sort of disease and insect problems.
One way you can head off issues is to plan and prepare now. This post has important tips on sanitation for common spring crop diseases, dips and early sprays to prevent key pests, as well as tips on where to spend your biocontrol dollars.
Continue reading “Preventing Issues in Your Spring Crops: Sanitation, Dips and Bio Tips.”
By now, you may of heard of the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), referred to more simply as “Rugose”. It is a viral disease that predominately impacts tomato plants, but also peppers, leaving fruit damaged and unmarketable.
It was first detected in Israel in 2014 but has now been found in parts of North America.
If you are a Canadian ornamental grower that ALSO grows tomato liners as part of your spring crop selection, or if you grow ORNAMENTAL PEPPERS, here is what you need to know regarding Rugose symptoms, prevention and more importantly, regulations.
Continue reading “The Rugose Virus Threat – Will it Affect Your Spring Crops?”
Okay, so Poinsettia don’t really get that many problems. But when issues arise, they can hit a crop fast and hard. Whitefly, Lewis mite, root rots, and nutritional issues can all quickly derail a quality crop.
Here’s a month by month guide on what you should be looking for to prevent small problems from becoming big issues.
Continue reading “99 Poinsettia Problems: Your Monthly Scouting Guide”
Poinsettias cuttings are here! Unfortunately, they will likely arrive with unwanted “presents” in tow. This includes Bemisia whitefly, a pest that can be hard to control with natural enemies and can ALSO be resistant to pesticides. So what’s a grower to do?
By implementing some preventative measures RIGHT NOW, and understanding WHEN it’s appropriate to spray, you can help save yourself a lot of headaches later.
The CFIA has recently released the Floriculture Sector Biosecurity Guide. Despite it’s imposing name, this is an excellent “road map” to help protect your facility from unwanted pests. The Guide offers biosecurity strategies from the time plants come in the front door ’till they’re out in the compost bin.
Don’t have a facility-wide Pest Management Program in place? This guide can provide the framework. (Why start from scratch?). Already have a strategy to mitigate risks from pests at your farm? Compare YOUR plan with the Floriculture Guide to see if you’ve overlooked anything.
Continue reading “New tool can help identify gaps in your pest management program”
Last year several consultants and I noticed something strange. A number of greenhouses in Ontario had noticeable infestations of mealybug in their poinsettia crop. This was the first time many in their 25+ year careers had seen this (e.g. see Mel Sawaya’s article in Greenhouse Canada Magazine).
It’s unclear yet if phenomenon will repeat itself this year (or perhaps affect even more operations), but growers should be on the lookout for this pest. Keep reading for more information about the potential cause of these mealybug infestations, and possible solutions.