Things to Do / Things to Think About This Month - August 2018

 
  Hort Snacks - August 2018
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Strawberries

  • 2nd nitrogen application should be made to June bearing strawberries mid-August - 15-20 lbs actual N/ac
  • Continue to cultivate June bearers between rows (same direction) after harvest to ensure good aeration and incorporation of straw and decrease next year’s disease and slug population
  • Maintain uniform soil moisture to facilitate rooting of runners
  • Continue nitrogen feeding of day-neutrals until end of August - 10-20 lbs actual N/ac/month applied in weekly or bi-monthly applications
  • Apply field cooling to day-neutrals if temperatures remain high (over 30°C)
  • Application of herbicides after harvest (June bearers) if quackgrass or other grass is a problem
  • Application of herbicides before mid-August (after harvest) for control of hard-to-control broadleaf weeds (June bearers only)
  • Line up a clean wheat or rye straw for a mulch supply. Run straw through the combine twice to reduce the number of weed seeds (or volunteer grain) in the straw or have it ammoniated (Note: ammoniation is a dangerous and costly process)
Raspberries
  • Increase watering until harvest completion
  • Continue irrigation after harvest to maintain growth of new canes
  • Trellis primocane raspberry canes (if required)
  • Cultivation between rows after harvest to break up compacted soil
  • Delay spent cane removal on floricanes until September
Saskatoon Berries
  • Prune diseased plants
  • Remove non-species plants
Vegetables
  • Continue to supply water through to crop maturity, particularly during the fruit filling or maturation process
  • Small amounts of foliar nutrient applications may be required to maintain plant growth and health
General / Other
  • Maintain good weed control (harbouring of disease and insect pests)
  • Commence or complete harvest operations, ensuring crops are harvested carefully, at appropriate mature stages and cooled quickly to prolong post-harvest lifespan
  • For most fruit crops, particularly tree or bush fruit, reduce the supply of water towards the middle of the month and do not water after the end of the month – watering can slow or prevent the onset of dormancy and can increase winter kill in some crops
    • e.g. Apples – will not shut down growth if water continues to be available
  • Visit a fellow producer
Pest Monitoring / Management
  • Continue to monitor for pests and diseases, controlling as required, remembering to adhere to Pre-Harvest Intervals
  • Strawberries
    • Continue to monitor for Tarnished Plant Bug and apply appropriate control measures
  • Raspberries
    • Control mites as required
 
 
 
 
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Robert Spencer.
This information published to the web on July 30, 2018.