Strawberry harvest has begun in southern Indiana, with growers reporting that the season started at least a week earlier than usual. We experienced a frost event in mid-March, along with a few light, scattered frosts afterward. Fortunately, with the use of row covers, crop damage has been minimal across the region.
Overall, the spring was relatively dry until the heavy rain on April 27. Disease pressure has been low, likely due to the dry conditions during the bloom period. However, these same conditions can favor certain insect pests. Thrips, for example, have been observed in multiple strawberry fields this season. More information about thrips and their management can be found in this article.
In addition to thrips, we have also observed damage from tarnished plant bugs. These insects feed on strawberry flowers and developing fruit, leading to aborted blooms or misshapen berries. More details on tarnished plant bugs are available in this article. Tarnished plant bugs are attracted by fast-growing weeds and certain cover crops. The grower from the farm where we saw tarnished plant bug damage reported that the insects were highly attracted to the crimson clover used as a cover crop.