We are sharing the following information provided by Tommy Higgins, State Executive Director, Maine Farm Service Agency. As of Thursday, September 18, six counties in Maine are now classified as D3 (Extreme Drought): Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Franklin, Somerset, and Oxford. In addition, our coastal counties stretching from Washington to Lincoln have remained in D2 (Severe […]
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RENOVATION AND WEED MANAGEMENT ISSUE Get Your Strawberry Beds Ready for Next Year and Manage Pests in Day-Neutral Strawberries The strawberry harvest is coming to a close in most parts of the state, as very warm weather has hastened the ripening of later varieties. The season started early for most farms, and hot weather caused […]
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STRAWBERRY HARVEST STARTS IN SOUTHERN MAINE Be On the Lookout for Fruit Rots, Sap Beetles and Spotted Wing Drosophila Situation: Strawberry harvest is getting started in southern Maine, although the picking is light and mostly for stand sales at this point. A few warm sunny days are needed to push the ripening along and get […]
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MORE RAIN MAKES INCREASES FUNGAL DISEASE THREAT Fungicide Applications Bloom – Post-Bloom To Control Botrytis, Anthracnose, Powdery Mildew Situation: A few warm days can make quite a difference! Strawberry growers in southern Maine are starting to see some ripe berries on early varieties and plants grown under row covers. Later varieties are still showing some […]
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TARNISHED PLANT BUG ACTIVE IN SOUTHERN MAINE Two-Spotted Spider Mite Populations Over Threshold in Some Fields Situation: Strawberry development continues to be slow, due to the mostly cool, damp weather. Some early varieties that were under rowcovers are beyond petal fall and may be ready for harvest in about two weeks if the weather improves. […]
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STRAWBERRY BLOOM = TIME TO PREVENT FRUIT ROT Spider Mite Populations Growing, White Grubs Found in Weak Plantings Situation: The mostly cool and damp weather has slowed strawberry development across the state. Early varieties such as Wendy and Honeoye are coming into bloom. Early fields under rowcovers are in full bloom in the southern part […]
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STRAWBERRY BLOOM BEGINS IN SOUTHERN MAINE No Insect Problems Yet, Spider Mites Found Everywhere; Bloom Sprays Should Target Gray Mold Situation: Early strawberries under rowcovers have just started to bloom in the southern part of the state. Overall, fields look good, some slightly ahead of average development for this time. As expected, there is evidence […]
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2025 STRAWBERRY PEST MANAGEMENT SEASON BEGINS Vegetable and Berry Growers Twilight Meeting at Belanger’s Farm, Lewiston, June 5, 5:30 p.m. Situation: March was slightly warmer than average this spring, but April has been very cool and damp, keeping strawberry plants dormant in matted row plantings under straw mulch. It is now time to uncover the […]
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While strawberries have long been a staple of spring crops in Maine, the plants are not especially hardy. As an herbaceous, or non-woody plant, strawberries don’t achieve what is considered a true state of dormancy during the winter. Rather, they go into a quiescent state, or pseudo-dormancy which offers some protection against extreme temperatures, but […]
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RENOVATION AND WEED MANAGEMENT ISSUE Get Your Strawberry Beds Ready for Next Year and Manage Pests in Day-Neutral Strawberries The strawberry harvest has come to an early close in most parts of the state due to the very warm weather in recent weeks. The season started early for most farms, and was shortened by the […]
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