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

April To Do List PDF