What's Growing ON?

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. 

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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 ([email protected]), Amanda Tracey - Vegetable Crop Specialist ([email protected]) or Cara McCreary - Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist ([email protected]). 

As well, Erica Pate, Fruit Crop Specialist sits in the 'Horticulture Hotseat' to shine some light on the tiny but destructive pest of strawberries, the cyclamen mite. 

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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 [email protected].

Continuing the pesticide resistance theme this week, we also hear from Dennis van Dyk, Vegetable Crop Specialist about the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), an insect pest that is infamously known to have major resistance issues in potato and tomato crops. Suspect you have resistance populations of CPB on your farm? Contact Dennis at [email protected].

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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 ([email protected]) or Katie Goldenhar ([email protected]). 

As well, Jennifer Llewellyn, Nursery & Landscape Specialist sits in the 'Horticulture Hotseat' to shine some light on why we're seeing such high populations of gypsy moth in Ontario this summer. 

Plus, Ontario crop updates for July 17th, 2020. If suspect allium leaf miner damage in garlic, contact Travis Cranmer ([email protected]).

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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 for July 3rd, 2020.

Editor's note: Since the recording of this podcast, cucumber downy mildew has now been detected in Kent County, Ontario. 

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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 province. 

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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 technologies for getting rid of those pesky weeds. Plus, Ontario crop updates for June 12th, 2020.

For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:

• www.onvegtables.com
• www.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

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.onfruit.ca
• https://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes