Year-Round IPM Program Pages
This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of fresh asparagus and nursery production of crowns in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Central Coast, southern San Joaquin Valley, and southern desert valleys.
About Spear Emergence Through Harvest
- Special issues of concern related to environmental quality: runoff.
- Mitigate pesticide effects on air and water quality.
What should you be doing during this time?
On spears, look for:
- Cutworm damage
- Garden symphylan damage and note for future management
- Crown and spear rot
- Purple spot lesions
- Rust lesions
Treat as needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
- Cultivate weeds when shaping beds for the harvest season.
- Apply appropriate preemergence herbicides for the weed spectrum at the site.
- Apply herbicides during the harvest period to control weeds that were not controlled by preemergence herbicides.
- Monitor for new invasions of perennial weeds and control by hand or spot spraying as appropriate.
If crown and spear rot is observed during harvest, treat according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
End harvest when production declines to 70% of the season's highest yield to maintain crown vigor.