August To Do List
Growing Season Management
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 Management
- 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
- 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