Year-Round IPM Program Pages
This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of strawberry fruit-production fields in California. Pest management activities for strawberry nurseries are discussed only as they impact pest problems in the field.
About Preplant
- Mitigate pesticide effects on air and water quality.
Work with the nursery to obtain transplants of the desired cultivar and certification level.
- Weeds: keep records
- Lygus bug host plants
- Whiteflies
- Vertebrate pests
Survey previous crop and adjacent areas
Review the cropping history of the field.
Analyze soil for nutrients and salts; consider an application of slow-release fertilizer.
Consider analyzing irrigation water for salinity and nitrogen content.
Consider soil treatments for soilborne pests and weeds.
- Soil fumigation (broadcast or drip applied)
- Soil solarization (only in non-coastal, warmer regions)
- Possible alternative methods such as anaerobic soil disinfestation or steam treatments
Prepare the field by making sure it is properly graded with good drainage.
Shape beds to minimize water retention on bed tops.
Consider visiting the transplant nursery in the last month of the propagation cycle (before it gets cold) to evaluate nursery fields for:
- Pest and pathogen problems that may be carried on
transplants:
Invertebrates
- Spider mites
- Cyclamen mite
Diseases
- Angular leaf spot
- Anthracnose
- Phytophthora
- Powdery mildew
- Uniformity in planting, indicating possible disease or plant quality issues
- Pesticide usage
Apply herbicides, if needed, before applying mulch.
Apply plastic mulch appropriate to your needs for:
- Weed control
- Managing soil temperature
- Controlling plant size