savage garden

Last week, I posted an updated IPM plan for Mandevilla that balances Thrips parvispinus (“Parvi”) control while taking into consideration other pests , as well as costs . The last post covered propagation in detail , including biocontrols and chemicals. This week I’ll be going over the best way to balance control of Thrips parvispinus (“Parvi”) and two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) in production. I’ll provide a working Parvi spray program that gives you high-quality plants by sale, but also makes sure spider mites don’t walk away with your crop (or your wallet!). New IPM Program Incorporating TSSM Control TSSM in Early Production: The Perfect Time for Biocontrol TSSM and Parvi Control After Spacing: Microbials to the Rescue? Spring Nights Bring More Mites: And Biocontrol Again? Crop Clean Up for TSSM: The Big Guns Take Home Messages From Part 2 New IPM Program Incorporating TSSM Control If you missed it in the last post, the PDF below contains the proposed new IPM...

When Thrips parvispinus first came on the scene in Ontario, our one goal was to knock back this pest any way we could. Four years later, we are suffering the effects of an all-chemical program . This includes high costs, along with insecticide resistance developing in two-spotted spider mite, which used to be managed biologically before Parvipsinus came along. Based on OMAFA’s work with commercial farms, along with input from technical reps from biocontrol companies, we’ve come up with a more refined IPM program for Mandevilla that balances Parvispinus control while taking into consideration other pests, as well as costs. I’ll be going over this program in detail over a 3 part series , so buckle up! There’s going to be a lot of content in these posts, so I’m including a handy-dandy table of contents if you want to skip to a specific section: Original Spray Program for Parvispinus IPM Program for Parvi, Aphids and Mites in Mandevilla New Plan in PDF Form Treating Cuttin...

As control measures differ depending on the thrips species you’re dealing with, the very FIRST step in learning how to manage thrips effectively is proper species identification . If you’re interested in having someone in your greenhouse operation learn how to do this (so you don’t have to rely on technical reps or government specialists), then keep reading! This will be our LAST in-person workshop , so make sure to take advantage of this free learning opportunity! Read on for more details and how to register . Workshop Details: Learning to ID Thrips Fig. 1. Can you say for certain which species these 3 thrips are? If not, then you should attend our workshop. Photo courtesy of A. Summerfield. WHAT: This  Thrips Species Identification Workshop is designed to teach greenhouse growers and IPM practitioners how to correctly identify thrips species that may occur on their farm. This includes common species such as western flower thrips, onion thrips, and Echinothrips , b...

Ontario greenhouse growers are increasingly experimenting with biostimulants to potentially boost plant quality. Used correctly, these products could help cut fertilizer costs, improve stress tolerance, and enhance overall crop quality . However, using these products without the knowledge of different categories of biostimulants, and sufficient in house trialing, can waste your time and money . In this first post of this two-part series , we will discuss what biostimulants are, the different categories they fall into, and first steps for choosing a product to trial. In the second post (coming soon!), we’ll discuss important tips for choosing a biostimulant , as well as potential drawbacks and, most importantly, how to trial this on your own farm for YOUR crop. Only looking for certain information? Use the table of contents to navigate between sections. Biostimulants Explained What they do: Potential Benefits: Biostimulant Active Ingredients Understanding Categor...