May To Do List

Growing Season Management

Strawberries

  • Light application of nitrogen as growth commences (end of April or early May – 10-20 lbs actual N/acre); make a heavier application if there was severe winter damage
  • Foliar application of complete fertilizer once leaves fully developed; if regrowth is weak, weekly applications may be necessary
  • Application of herbicides for grassy weed control prior to bloom (if required)
  • Frost protection of June bearers at bloom if required
  • Deblossom newly planted June bearers for season
  • Deblossom newly planted Tristar Day-neutrals for 6 weeks
  • Apply herbicide 4-6 weeks after planting new fields

Raspberries

  • Complete cane thinning
  • Remove dead cane tips down to active growth
  • Make 2nd application of N (mid-May) – 20-40 lbs actual N/acre

Saskatoon Berries

  • Commence 1st application of nitrogen and phosphorus during early-mid May (additional application June-end) – 15-25 lbs actual N/acre; 10-20 lbs P/acre – adjust rate when banding

Black Currants

  • Apply nitrogen (end of April or early May) – starting in 3rd year – 50 lbs actual N/acre

Vegetables

  • Pre-planting application and/or incorporation of herbicides (trifluralin, etc.) for registered crops in early part of month (if not completed previously)
  • Seeding of most crops should be completed before month end
  • Consider multiple planting dates to spread out harvest dates and reduce risk
  • Transplant crops when risk of frost is past or protect crops using field or row covers or mini-tunnels
  • Extending the early growing season in spring rather than fall has more sunlight benefit
  • Consider try a few “new to you” varieties, to hedge your risk against the loss of “standby” varieties

General Management

  • Monitor soil moisture conditions and irrigate as required
  • Install / repair outhouses, update signage, arrange washing facilities & drinking water locations
  • If foliar feeding, application on slow drying days may increase uptake

Pest Monitoring / Management

  • Continue insect and disease monitoring
  • Watch out for unusual insects – often linked with weather
  • Do not apply pesticides during full bloom

Vegetables

  • Flea beetle adults emerge and begin egg laying towards mid-month
    • Monitor for shot holes in cotyledons late month
  • Consider the use of appropriate seed treatments in cool and/or wet seeding conditions

Strawberries

  • If Botrytis fruit rot was a problem in the past, consider application of fungicides as growth commences
    • Generally, one early application and one late application should be sufficient.
  • Monitor 1st blossoms for Tarnished Plant Bug activity and take control options as necessary
  • Monitor for strawberry clipper weevils when temperatures exceed 18°C

Saskatoon berries

  • Make applications of insecticides and fungicides based on label timing, with adjustments for weather conditions and scouting / monitoring activities (e.g. dryer conditions may allow you to skip an Entomosporium control application)
  • Decis 5.0EC applied at green tip stage (flower bud break to tight bud cluster), early flowering (25-50% bloom) and after petal drop
  • Fungicides with the active ingredient propiconazole (e.g. Topas/Tilt/Bumper, etc.) may be applied at white tip, petal drop and green fruit stages
  • Adhere to Pre-Harvest Interval and Re-Entry Intervals for respective pesticides

Black Currants

  • Apply insecticides against currant fruit fly at petal fall (repeat 7 days later)

    May To Do List PDF