Canola Flowering | Northern Canola Growers Association

The beginning of canola flowering is an important crop stage for making decisions about whether or not to use a fungicide application against sclerotinia. For localized sclerotinia risk see the most current risk map. To estimate the canola growth stage in a field use the NDAWN growth stages application.

When canola is flowering, heat blasting and or flower abortion is a possibility. This can vary from field to field and is very dependent on time of flowering, soil moisture and humidity during the hot periods. Usually in this situation one would see no or limited pod growth and thus no seed. It will usually be in patches on the main stem and branches as related to time of flowering and the heat stress. With good soil moisture usually canola flower abortion will be minimized to some extent.

High temperatures during flowering shorten the time the flower is receptive to pollen, as well as the duration of pollen release and its viability. This can decrease the number of pods which develop and the number of seeds per pod, resulting in lower yields. Once pods are formed, canola is more tolerant than at flowering to high temperatures. Cool night temperatures at this time also help the plant recover. High temperatures at flowering will hasten the plant's development, reducing the time from flowering to maturity. The seed oil content is highest when seeds mature under lower temperatures (50 to 70 F). High temperatures during seed maturation result in reduced oil content.

11.CPR_.July 14.2022.pdf (ndsu.edu)