IPM Message for Cranberry Growers: May 6, 2015

Winter moth larvae are out and growers are spraying to control the immatures.  We sprayed Rocky Pond bog in Miles Standish Forest on Monday for WM control. The larvae are very small; using a hand lens or other magnifier to see them, if needed (see pictures on first page of May 1 newsletter). Scouting for other early season insects should be well underway.  Although the spring has been cool, native varieties are at 25 F for frost tolerance and the hybrids are at 27 F (cabbage head stage).  Carolyn feels that the vines have “caught up” to their average growth stage for early May.

Applications of Casoron for dodder control will be going out soon.  Check your bog for early emerging seedlings. You will need to part the vines and look closely for the seedlings.  If you are able to use QuinStar, the target window is early postemergence, a little bit later than for Casoron applications.

We will be holding a bog side workshop at Edgewood Headquarters, 73 Tremont Street on Tuesday May 12 from 9 AM to Noon.  We will cover a wide range of topics including tile drainage, insect update, backpack sprayer calibration demonstration and managing fruit rot without Bravo.  2 contact hours will be offered.