The Vegetable Crop Report is back for another season! We hope everyone is staying safe, and your field season’s are off to a good start despite everything that is going on.
Temperature – Growing Degree Day values continue to lag behind 10-year averages in Peterborough, Kemptville and Sudbury but have mostly caught up in all other regions. Cooler temperatures are expected in the upcoming week and there is a high risk of frost in most regions for Friday evening and over the weekend. Take the necessary precautions to protect any crops already planted. Temperatures have not yet been warm enough to trigger pest forecasting thresholds for any regions (a possible exception being leek moth emergence in some southern portions of the province). Degree day data for each region is shown below.
Rainfall – Flurries are possible over the weekend in all regions. Regions in southern Ontario may see wet flurries or a mix of rain and snow. No rain is forecasted for the remainder of the upcoming week. Precipitation data for each region is shown below.
Crop Updates
Asparagus – Cooler weather has kept emergence slow, however some growers have begun their harvest.
Brassica Crops – Transplanting is ongoing and dryer areas have required irrigation after transplanting. Seedcorn maggot fly will likely reach it’s first generation growing degree threshold in Essex and Norfolk counties this week. Early plantings are at risk of frost injury over the next few days. Irrigating will keep the soil moist and may provide a buffer to help keep the soil temperature above freezing.
Carrots – Register now to attend the online Carrot and Celery IPM Scouting Workshop scheduled for next Tuesday, May 12th. Many early carrot fields are seeded with some already needing irrigation. The upcoming cold weather is a concern and frost has already caused issues resulting in fields being re-seeded. Soil-borne pathogens might also be an issue with the cooler soil temperatures.
Celery – Register now to attend the online Carrot and Celery IPM Scouting Workshop scheduled for next Tuesday, May 12th.
Cucurbit Crops – The earliest planting date for the warmest area of Ontario tends to be around May 10, Register now for the online Cucurbit IPM Scouting workshop for Thursday, May 20th.
Garlic – Tipburn is being observed on plants that have experienced some hard frosts after the 3 leaf stage or a herbicide application that was applied when the temperature was low. Avoid applying nitrogen after the 5th leaf stage to reduce the amount of rough bulbs at harvest. Leek moths were captured in traps last weekend during the warm weather that was experienced across the southwestern part of the province. With the cool weather at night that we have experienced this week there may be another scattered start for leek moth this year. If your garlic already shows leaf damage due to an insect, please send photos to travis.cranmer@ontario.ca.
Onions – The cool weather has slowed germination and made transplants slow to establish. With the cool weather, soil borne pathogens may cause pre-emergent damping off. Once the flag leaf has emerged, count out 25 plants per row and put a stake or stick at each end and record the number of plants every few days. Count the number of plants over the next few weeks and monitor for damage due to maggot flies, damping-off or cold weather. Register now for the online Onion IPM Scouting workshop for Thursday, May 14th. Onion insect and pathogen scouting will be the focus of the webinar.
Potatoes – Planting conditions have been excellent in the last week and many acres have been planted. Concerns about the upcoming cold weather, especially in areas with emerged crop. Irrigating will keep the soil moist which could help keep the soil temperature above freezing.
Rhubarb – Some frost damage has been observed on emerging leaves. Remove wilted stalks and monitor for secondary infection.
Sweet Corn, Beans and Peas – Planting is now underway in many regions. Register now for the online Sweet Corn, Beans and Peas IPM Scouting workshop for Friday, May 15th.
Tomatoes – Planting dates in the warmest areas of the province have been delayed to May 13th at the earliest due to cool temperatures and risk of frost.
NOTE: Data as of May 6th, 2020
Pest Degree Day Forecasting
| Pest | Carrot Rust Fly | Onion Maggot | Carrot Weevil | Aster Leafhopper | Tarnished Plant Bug | Cabbage Maggot | Seedcorn Maggot | European Corn Borer |
| THRESHOLD | 329-395, 1399-1711 | 210-700, 1025-1515 | 138-156, 455+ | 128+ | 40+ | 314-398, 847-960, 1446-1604 | 200-350, 600-750, 1000-1150 | See legend below |
| Essex* | 223 | 176 | 73 | 39 | 13 | 101 | 176 | 29 |
| Chatham-Kent* | 174 | 131 | 51 | 26 | 3 | 70 | 131 | 17 |
| Norfolk** | 187 | 146 | 53 | 25 | 2 | 76 | 146 | 15 |
| Huron*** | 123 | 93 | 37 | 17 | 0 | 50 | 93 | 9 |
| Wellington** | 118 | 84 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 39 | 84 | 4 |
| Simcoe County*** | 113 | 81 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 40 | 81 | 4 |
| Durham*** | 143 | 107 | 36 | 16 | 1 | 52 | 107 | 9 |
| Peterborough | 118 | 84 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 39 | 84 | 4 |
| Kemptville*** | 119 | 89 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 40 | 89 | 6 |
| Sudbury*** | 44 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 28 | 0 |
*- Bivoltine region for ECB. First Peak Catch: 300-350 DD, Second Peak Catch 1050-1100 DD
**- Overlap region for ECB. First Peak Catch : 300-350 DD Second Peak Catch 650-700 DD, Third Peak Catch 1050-1100 DD
***-Univoltine region for ECB. Peak Catch 650-700 DD
Use these thresholds as a guide, always confirm insect activity with actual field scouting and trap counts.
Select a region below for the latest weather, crop and pest degree day information:
Essex County
Chatham-Kent County
Norfolk County
Huron County
Wellington County
Simcoe County
Durham County
Peterborough
Kemptville
Sudbury
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