savage garden

In case you’re not in the know, Greenhouse Product News (GPN) Magazine has a great plant health webinar series (sign up for it using this link! ). This month, I recorded a webinar for them taking a deep dive into predator-prey interactions between thrips and their natural enemies. If you’ve ever wondered why IPM specialists like myself recommend multiple biocontrol agents at once for optimal thrips control, or why rates of natural enemies need to be so high , then this webinar is for you. GPN Plant Health Management Series What: Predator-Prey Interactions in the Greenhouse: Secrets of Biocontrol When: Watch on Demand now (free). Recorded August 2024. Description: Biocontrol is not a one-and-done option for effective pest control in the greenhouse. In this on-demand session, the greenhouse floriculture IPM specialist at Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), Sarah Jandricic, goes deep into the predator-prey interactions that occur when using biocontr...

Originally published on the ONgreenhousevegetables blog on  October 15, 2024  by  Cara McCreary A spotted lanternfly adult. Photo by APHIS. They may be pretty, but they aren’t our friends. Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive sap-feeding planthopper with potential to harm agriculture and forestry in Ontario. But I  only  grow greenhouse fruits and vegetables, so why does it matter to me, you ask? Read on to learn more about why this pest matters to everyone. SLF: The Issue Although not considered a huge threat to our greenhouse crops, we can still do our part in our communities. If you enjoy the benefits of orchards, vineyards, agroforestry or nurseries or you have neighbours, friends or family that produce these commodities, then you are part of this community. There are currently NO ESTABLISHED POPULATIONS of SLF in Canada, but interceptions have occurred at several border crossings, so this is an imminent threat. Spotted lanternfly is a quarant...

Going to the Canadian Greenhouse Conference this week? Still unfamiliar with Ontario’s Crop Protection Hub (fondly referred to as “Crop Hub”) and want to know more about it? Then join me both days of the conference from 12-1:30 at the OMAFA booth if you want a live, one-on-one demo! This user-friendly tool helps you look up things like: Quick access to rates and REIs of floriculture pest-control products Current efficacies of pesticides and fungicides to Ontario pests Compatibility of chemical products with natural enemies Quick link to the legal label Keep reading to see other new features of the Greenhouse Floriculture module in Crop Hub that can also be demonstrated on Wednesday and Thursday ! Note that this demo is applicable to floriculture, vegetable and nursery crop growers, as the Greenhouse Vegetable module will be going LIVE at CGC and a Nursery and Landscape module is slated for Spring. See you all at CGC! Making it Easier to Compare Products When you c...

This is a guest post by Avery Johnson (former OMAFA summer student and current M.Sc. student studying Thrips parvispinus) and S. Jandricic. Having difficulty identifying thrips on sticky cards and need clear photos to send to your consultant or extension agent? Don’t want to invest in a microscope? Well, you’re in luck, because we’ve done the legwork to find some good alternatives to get high quality photos. Thrips Identification to Species: Why is this Important? Why Owning a Microscope is Useful: Alternatives: Camera Phone Attachments Lens Option #1: CiCiglow 0.45x Wide Angle Lens with 12.5x Macro Lens Lens Option #2: Apexel 12-24X 2-in-1 Macro Lens. Lens Option #3:  200X Clip On Microscope Magnifier Lens with LED light The Final Verdict Thrips Identification to Species: Why is this Important? Recently, thrips species other than western flower thrips have become a significant problem in Ontario greenhouses, likely due to reduced pesticide use, global trade, and ...