Category Archives: Herbs

Lavender Crop Update – August Tasks – July 31, 2026

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Sean Westerveld

Lavender bloom is wrapping up in most areas, and growers will soon focus on harvest for oil extraction followed by pruning. While growers are focused on harvest and distillation, it is easy to forget about the crop. However, this is … Continue reading →

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Lavender Crop Update  – Things to Monitor During Bloom – July 9, 2026

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Sean Westerveld

Lavender is in full bloom across the province. Bloom was late to arrive this year, but may progress faster than normal due to the above-normal temperatures. Although growers are focused on many activities at this time of year and the … Continue reading →

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Lavender Crop Update – June 12, 2026

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Sean Westerveld

Despite warmer weather over the past two weeks, it still appears that lavender bloom is behind schedule. Normally, the first blooms on the earliest cultivars begin to open in Simcoe around June 15-18. This year, bud heads are just beginning … Continue reading →

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Lavender Crop Update – Winterkill and Pest Update – May 22, 2026

Posted on May 22, 2026 by Sean Westerveld

Winterkill By now, lavender plants should have fully greened up. If the outer portions of the canopy are still brown, the plant will only recover if new shoots are now visible lower on the branches or near the crown. Green-up … Continue reading →

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Full Moon and Frost Risk – Is There Really a Connection?

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Sean Westerveld

It is May, the time of year when growers constantly watch the weather because the risk of frost is high. Many growers and gardeners consider the May full moon as an important factor for determining when the last frost of … Continue reading →

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Managing Basil Downy Mildew with Resistant Cultivars

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Sean Westerveld

Basil downy mildew was first identified in Ontario in 2010 and caused devastating losses in the first few years after its introduction (Figure 1). The disease often shows up in Ontario in late July or early August, and once in … Continue reading →

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