August 31, 2016

Greenhouse IPM Update 8.31.16

Life on the lake…..ahhh.  Even though I am (really, I am) working.

A virus to watch out for – tomato spotted wilt in chrysanthemums.  The MSU article won’t connect but here it is via Floradaily.  And so you have lots of pictures – here and here.

Yet another pest to keep an eye out for.  Pepper weevil We don’t have too many greenhouse pepper growers in NYS that I know of but it is a pest in the greenhouse pepper industry in Leamington ON – not that far away.

And while we are at it – insects AND chrysanthemums – Chrysanthemum aphid.

Lettuce be clear – growing greenhouse greens year ‘round requires lots of environmental monitoring.  A nice article with information from Neil Mattson.

Do the dew! Learn how to calculate a dew point and how it might affect disease incidence in your greenhouse. An article and a webinar Sept 8.  (I hadn’t hear of Upstart University which is online and for profit but might have some good information.)

How often do you hear this question: Are you keeping your bumblebees cool enoughLearn how to answer it.

Keeping things warm – solar/thermal greenhouse heating.  When I met Rob Hastings he said his first year farming there was a frost in almost every month.  So he understands the need for alternative methods.

There’s more but I save it so you can enjoy the day…

March 22, 2016

Greenhouse IPM Update 3.9.16

Back in the saddle again!  I think there are about 5 partial updates on my computer.  But I promise not to send them all at once.  This should keep you out of trouble for a while!

Rain predicted for tomorrow so it’s a good time to talk about humidity.  Which Premier Tech kindly did for us, through Horti-Daily.  They didn’t mention pest management (Hey!) but you know that it has an effect.  Can we all say together: Botrytis!

Things to keep on your calendar – The Greenhouse Canada Grower Day June 15 in Niagara Falls.  The topic this year is Whiteflies – with some great speakers and interesting ideas.

Five wasps in one!  Koppert is unveiling a new mix of 5 parasitic wasps to manage aphids – especially to find the earliest infestations.  Not available in the US yet – but maybe?
Turns out Bioline has a 3 in 1 aphid wasp mix.  Has anyone tried it and is it better than just 2?

Do you use Met 52?  Monsanto BioAg says it will keep producing it but it won’t be available from Feb – Oct 2016.
Pit bull bees – that can bite the legs off the varroa mites that plague them! Breeding better bees

What’s in your water (sorry American Express)?  Do you know? And does it affect sanitation?

Well, this just looks like fun! A roof cleaner for greenhouses – but will it work on kitchen floors?
Pest management from the comfort of your couch?  It sounds like they are trying to get there. An automated pest monitoring system!

Growing vegetables on a cruise ship. Does the grower get to go along?

Koppert has an IPM app.  Has anyone tried it?

Poinsettias as landscape plants . In NYS?

Enjoy our mini-spring – and keep your fingers crossed.  Winter aconite and snowdrops and crocuses out!

Have a great week!