Happy summer solstice!  I was picking strawberries at 9:00 last night to celebrate (or just because that’s finally when I got around to it!)

Hot enough for you?  Thrips biocontrol agents are also affected by temperature.  Michigan State notes that the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris isn’t as tolerant of temperatures over 75 F as is Amblyseius swirskii.  And Steinernema nematodes should be applied later in the evening as they prefer median temperatures between 50 and 80 F.  Orius, however, likes it hot!

New and used – well, previous.  Ball Publishing’s webinar series.  New – June 21 on Mites in the Nursery. Archived – Root rot management for annual and perennial crops http://www.ballpublishing.com/BallPub/_Webinars.aspx

Are you hungry?  How about your plants?  A Nutrient Deficiency Refresher from Chevonne Carlow at OMAFRA   Hmmm, I think I’ll eat lunch!

It just looks like dirt and water.  It is really a whole series of methods for testing your growing media from Premier Tech. http://www.floraldaily.com/article/5506/How-to-test-growing-media  And since you just learned about nutrient deficiencies, you should try it now!

Need new toys?  Insect-dropping ‘eco-drones’ for dispersing biocontrols

How about new crops?  Michigan State is holding a tour of fruit production under high tunnels on July 5, 2016. Cornell has raspberries in high tunnels but cherries?

Stay cool and have a great week!