Updates
This May has been very dry, and we are below the 10-year
average of May rainfall amount in NS. The dry environment is helpful during
disease season (less infection!), however, as we are in the middle of bloom and
pollination season, we need adequate rainfall to make successful pollination. We
had two frost events so far, but they didn’t cause significant damage to bloom.
However, I noticed a little bit of frost damage in some fields.
Many growers are wondering how to tell the differences
between frost damage and disease infection on leaves and flowers. I read a very
nice factsheet about this topic, and I like to share some key information about
them. This factsheet and all information I share below is from Wild Blueberry
extension service, University of Maine. Thank you for them to produce many resources
for the wild blueberry industry.
As I said, this year’s monilinia blight disease pressure is
low, but we are still in the middle of bloom and any long, warm, wet periods
are ideal for Botrytis infection.
Upcoming
Events
Please check out the Wild Blueberry Blog Event Page where I
just updated a few events in the calendar.
http://www.novascotiawildblueberryblog.com/p/events.html.
Two events to highlight:
1. WBPANS- 2022 Twilight Meetings Session 2: Thomas Harrington (Perennia's Agri-technology specialist) and myself will lead the session, focusing on weather stations.
2.
Perennia Horticulture Tail Gate Meeting in
Tatamagouche (June 6; 10 am-12 pm), Mill Creek and North Lochaber.
https://www.perennia.ca/learning/field-days/.
A special note: I will join the one in
Tatamagouche on June 6. If any of you like to meet and bring questions, I am
happy to meet old friends and get to know some new faces.