April To Do List
Growing Season Management
Strawberries
- Plan plant pickup, field layout, planting labour
- Remove straw mulch when new growth appears (centre of crown)
- Application of some nitrogen
- As growth commences – 10-20 lbs actual N/acre – typically end of April or early May
- Herbicide application (e.g. Devrinol) prior to bloom, if it was not applied in the fall
- If planting both June bearers and Day-neutrals, plant Day-neutral strawberries first, as soon as you can work the land (maybe 3rd week of April).
- Deblossom newly planted June bearers for season
- Frost protection of June bearers (if required)
- Replenish bare or lightly covered spots with straw mulch
Raspberries
- Thin floricane raspberry canes and remove winter damaged material
- 2nd application of nitrogen (month end?) (20-40 lbs actual N/acre)
- Herbicide application (e.g. Devrinol), if it was not applied last fall
- Mowing to ground and removing last year’s cane growth from primocane-type raspberries
Saskatoon Berries
- Pruning / Thinning
- Dead, diseased, low-spreading branches, branches larger than a Loonie – before bud break
- Complete pruning for rejuvenation / regeneration, if not completed
Black Currants
- Prune branches over 4 years old (can be done on a rotational basis)
- Application of nitrogen fertilizer at end of month (or early May), starting in 3rd year – ~50 lbs/ac actual N
Vegetables
- Depending on the crops that you are growing, you might start your transplants for those that require 6-8 weeks to grow.
- Delay / stagger seeding to allow for hardening and multiple planting dates
- Depending on your production systems and equipment, prepare fields and lay plastic mulches
- Make pre-planting incorporated herbicide applications at mid or end of month for registered crops (follow label instructions for timing and rates)
- Plant earlier, cool season crops (depending on weather conditions)
General Management
- Soil sampling / testing, if this was not done in the fall
- Finalize planning of plant layouts
- Plan your advertising timing
- Solidify your summer schedule – planting, spraying, irrigation, etc.
- Planning of marketing schedule
- Irrigation (as necessary)
Pest Monitoring / Management
- Begin scouting for insect pests and diseases
Strawberries
- Start scouting for strawberry clipper weevil, when temperatures exceed 18°C
Raspberries
- Application of lime sulphur fungicide (22%) for spur/cane blight control
Saskatoon berries
- Application of Decis at green tip to bud elongation stage
Black Currants
- Make insect control applications at bloom