What's Growing ON?

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Erica Pate (Fruit Crop Specialist) and Katie Goldenhar (Plant Pathologist) to talk about an emerging pest issue in Ontario strawberries, called Neopestalotiopsis. For more information on identification and biology of this disease,  check out Pest Alert: Neopestalotiopsis - An Emerging Strawberry Disease in North America on the ONfruit blog. If you suspect this disease in your fie...

In this episode, OMAFRA's Fruit Crop Specialist, Erica Pate sits in the horticulture hotseat to talk about the importance of strawberry aphid management to minimize incidence and impact of insect-vectored viruses. Following,  Kristy dives into the waters of pesticide rainfastness to look at some general guidelines around insecticide and fungicide wash-off and how these can assist in decision-making when it comes to what to do ...

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Vegetable Crop Specialist, Elaine Roddy to get the buzz on the important pollinator of pumpkin and squash, the squash bee. Questions for Elaine? Contact her at elaine.roddy@ontario.ca.    

For more information on squash bee in Ontario, check out the following resources:

• Managing  Pumpkin/Squash in Ontario  to Maximize Pollination Services by Wild Bees - Ontario Fruit ...

In this episode, we hear from a series of OMAFRA specialists during a marathon of Horticulture Hotseat. Up first, we review the basics of integrated pest management (IPM) with Summer Research Assistant, Ali Collingwood. Consider this an opportunity to review where the strengths and gaps lie within your on-farm IPM program. Following Ali, OMAFRA's Plant Pathologist, Katie Goldenhar (katie.goldenhar@ontario.ca) walks us through ...

In this episode, Kristy chats with fellow OMAFRA Horticulture IPM Specialists, Wendy McFadden-Smith (tender fruit and grape) and Melanie Filotas (specialty crops) to talk about the importance of regular pest scouting, from how often and how much to what to look for and where in perennial crops. Questions for Wendy or Melanie? Contact them at wendy.mcfadden-smith@ontario.ca or melanie.filotas@ontario.ca.   

Check out the O...

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Ginseng & Herb Specialist, Sean Westerveld to talk all things lavender from site selection, propagation, management and harvest to market and agri-tourism impacts. Questions for Sean? Contact him at sean.westerveld@ontario.ca.    

For more information on growing lavender in Ontario, check out the following resources:

• Growing Lavender in Ontario: An Introduction fo...

In this episode, Kristy sits down with two new specialists that have recently joined OMAFRA, Erika DeBrouwer (Tree Fruit Specialist) and Jenny Liu (Maple, Tree Nut & Agroforestry Specialist) to hear about who they are, what their new roles entail and plans for the coming year.

Erika can be reached at erika.debrouwer@ontario.ca or 226-931-4098.

Jenny can be reached at jenny.liu2@ontario.ca or 519-835-5872.  

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Katie Goldenhar (Plant Pathologist) and Hannah Fraser (Entomologist) to talk about pesticide resistance in horticulture crops and the importance of resistance management. In this episode, we look at the mechanisms behind insecticide and fungicide resistance, how modes of action differ, pesticide classifications and what you can do in your production system to manage resistance. <...

In this episode, Cassie continues the conversation with Engineer Specialist, John Van de Vegte on ways to evaluate and optimize on-farm productivity. John gives some examples of value-add and non-value-add activities in vegetable cropping systems as well as discusses the future direction for automation and labour saving technologies in field vegetable production. 

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onve...

In this episode, Kristy sits down with Kathryn Carter, Fruit Crop Specialist and John Van de Vegte, Engineering Specialist to talk about improving productivity and why establishing baseline information for your farm is so important. In this episode, we look at how labour efficiencies can be improved in perennial cropping systems such as vineyards and orchards as well as the benefits and challenges with investing in mechanization. <...

In this episode, Kristy sits down with co-host Cassie Russell, former acting Vegetable Crop Specialist and current acting Tree Fruit Specialist to talk about monitoring for the problematic invasive insect, the pepper weevil. For more information on how to properly identify pepper weevil, check out Which Weevil Warrants Worry? on the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable blog. Suspect you have pepper weevil? Contact Cassie Russell (cassandra...

In this episode, we are joined by Kristen Obeid, Weed Specialist for horticulture crops to talk about the status of herbicide resistance in Ontario and a provincial resistance testing project that is underway. For more information on how to get your fields tested for free, contact Kristen at kristen.obeid@ontario.ca.

Continuing the pesticide resistance theme this week, we also hear from Dennis van Dyk, Vegetable Crop Speci...

In this special extended episode, Cassie goes back to basics with co-host Kristy Grigg-McGuffin, Horticulture Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist to talk about the components of what makes an IPM program using summer disease in apples as a case study. More information on IPM and apple-specific pest issues can be found on the Ontario CropIPM website.

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables...

In this episode, we are joined by Katie Goldenhar, Pathologist for horticulture crops to talk about the early activity of cucurbit downy mildew (CDM). For more information on CDM, visit Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast on ipmPIPE and the Michigan State University Hausbeck Plant Pathology Research Lab. Looking to report CDM in Ontario? Contact Andew Wylie (andrew.c.wylie@ontario.ca) or Katie Goldenhar (katie.goldenhar@ontario.ca). 

In this episode, we are joined by Rebecca Shortt, Water Quantity Engineer to hear tips on how to make every drop of irrigation count for horticulture production. For more information and links to videos, visit the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Irrigation website. Plus, Ontario crop updates for July 10th, 2020.

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• ht...

In this episode, we are joined by Erica Pate, Fruit Crop Specialist for berries to talk weather-based models and how they can be used to manage issues like anthracnose in strawberries. For more information on anthracnose management, click here. As well, is it a yam or sweet potato? Melanie Filotas, Horticulture IPM Specialist for specialty crops sets the record straight on Ontario sweet potato production. Plus, Ontario crop updates...

In this episode, we are joined by Andrew C Wylie, Vegetable Crop Specialist to get more information on striped cucumber beetle in cucurbits. As well, we hear from Kathryn Carter, Fruit Crop Specialist on factors impacting fruit set in grapes. Plus, Ontario crop updates for June 19th, 2020.

Editor's note: Since the recording of this podcast, spotted wing drosophila has now been caught in all monitoring regions of the p...

In this episode, we are joined by Hannah Fraser, Entomologist for horticulture crops and Erica Pate, Fruit Crop Specialist for berries to introduce us to the invasive insect, spotted wing drosophila and how berry and tender fruit growers are dealing with this difficult pest. As well, we hear from Dennis Van Dyk, Vegetable Crop Specialist for root vegetables on weed control in carrots as well as some existing and emerging technologi...

In this episode, we are joined by Travis Cranmer, Vegetable Crop Specialist for alliums, brassica and leafy vegetables to introduce us to the benefits of removing garlic scapes and Katie Goldenhar, Pathologist for horticulture crops to discuss the risk of fire blight of apples and pears after bloom. Plus, Ontario crop updates for June 8th, 2020.

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onf...