Apple phenology continues to progress across New Jersey, with development advancing rapidly under recent warm temperatures. Observations indicate that most varieties statewide are at pink bud, while early varieties in southern counties, such as Pink Lady, have entered bloom.

This stage marks a critical transition in disease management, particularly for fire blight, apple scab, powdery mildew, and cedar apple rust, while also representing an important period for early-season insect management and monitoring.

Phenology Dates by County (earliest varieties)

Early control is critical to avoiding season-long pressure.

Ambrosia Beetle

• Significant flight activity has been observed across New Jersey, with high trap captures reported in multiple counties.
• Activity is increasing in all regions.
• Continue monitoring activity closely, particularly in stressed, declining, or newly planted blocks, which remain most susceptible.
• Growers should remain alert, as peak flight activity typically coincides with warm temperatures during bloom.

Mating Disruption Timing

• Codling moth (CM) mating disruption should be deployed by bloom (pink–early bloom timing is ideal).
• Most counties are now at bloom, and applications should be completed immediately if not already done.

• Apply on a 3–7 day interval during bloom, tightening ahead of rain
• Powdery mildew can develop under dry conditions
• Do not tank mix Captan with oil due to phytotoxicity risk
• Rotate FRAC groups and preserve FRAC 11 fungicides for summer use

Pear development has progressed rapidly across New Jersey, with warm temperatures accelerating bloom.

Most European pear varieties are now early-petal-fall in southern counties.

Asian pear varieties remain slightly more advanced, with many blocks in southern counties moving through late bloom into early petal fall, and northern plantings at full bloom to late bloom.

Pear psylla activity continues to be variable across southern New Jersey, though pressure remains generally low to moderate in most orchards. Earlier oil applications, particularly where combined with materials such as Esteem, have likely helped suppress early populations.

• Gloucester County: None observed
• Salem County: Adults observed
• Burlington County: No activity observed to date
• Mercer County: No activity observed to date

As orchards move through petal fall, psylla populations are expected to increase with continued warm temperatures.

At Petal Fall:

• Continue monitoring for adults, eggs, and early nymph hatch
• Use beating trays to assess adult activity
• Examine developing shoots and leaf undersides for eggs and emerging nymphs

Management Considerations:

• Insecticide applications can resume at petal fall, targeting early nymph stages
• Timing is critical—applications shortly after egg hatch provide the most effective control
• Prioritize blocks with historically high pressure or current egg presence

Recommended Petal Fall Options:

• Movento – excellent systemic control of psylla, scale, and aphids (use with a spreading-penetrating adjuvant to improve efficacy)
• Also effective options at petal fall: Actara, Assail, Belay, Centaur, Sivanto Prime, and Agri-mek

Management should focus on targeting newly hatched nymphs, as this stage is the most susceptible and critical for preventing population buildup.

• Most pear varieties across southern New Jersey are now at petal fall, with some blocks moving into early post-bloom stages; northern counties remain at full bloom to late bloom.
• Asian pear varieties remain slightly more advanced, with many blocks at petal fall.
• Pear psylla pressure remains low to moderate, likely due in part to prior oil applications, particularly where combined with Esteem.
• Insecticide applications can resume at petal fall, with a focus on targeting early nymph hatch.
• Growers should continue scouting for adults, eggs, and newly hatched nymphs to guide post-bloom management decisions.
• Recent and forecasted wetting events continue to support pear scab infection risk, and fungicide coverage should be maintained.
• Fire blight risk remains elevated, particularly under warm conditions; monitor for trauma events and late infection risk.
• Continued scouting and close monitoring of weather conditions and tree growth will be critical over the next 7–10 days as post-bloom disease and insect pressure develop.

• 

  Figure 1. Peach at shuck split in Gloucester County, NJ.

  Peach and nectarine development has progressed rapidly across New Jersey, with warm temperatures accelerating bloom and early fruit set.

• Most varieties in southern counties are now at petal fall to early shuck split (Figure 1), while northern counties are at full bloom, with some earlier varieties at petal fall.
• Development is expected to continue advancing quickly under continued warm conditions, with southern blocks moving further into early fruit development stages over the next week.

Blossom blight risk declines as orchards move through petal fall; however, infections can still occur on remaining blossoms and young fruitlets under favorable conditions.

Infection is favored during wetting periods between 41–86°F, with optimal conditions in the mid-70s, and risk remains elevated during extended wet periods. Fruitlets remain susceptible until shuck split, when natural resistance begins to increase.

Management Considerations

• Maintain fungicide coverage through petal fall and into early cover, especially ahead of rainfall
• Focus on protecting young fruitlets, particularly in blocks with a history of brown rot
• If prolonged wetting occurred during bloom, ensure continued protection post-bloom
• Rotate fungicide chemistries to reduce resistance risk

Recommended Petal Fall / Early Cover Materials

• Effective options:
  • Indar, Inspire Super, Luna Sensation, Merivon, Pristine, Cevya, Flint Extra
• Additional options:
  • Rovral (prior to petal fall timing only)
  • Captan (useful in cover sprays)

Notes:

• Many of the most effective materials (FRAC 7, 11, 3) also play key roles in pre-harvest brown rot control—plan rotations accordingly
• Avoid over-reliance on any single FRAC group
• Abound and Quadris Top are highly effective, but are phytotoxic to apples—do not use if the same sprayer is used across crops

Petal Fall / Early Cover Considerations: 

• Peach scab:
  • Apply Flint Extra or Abound at petal fall for anti-sporulant activity in high-pressure blocks
• Bacterial spot:
  • Begin protection at petal fall in susceptible blocks using copper or Mycoshield, especially under warm, wet conditions
• Rusty spot:
  • Programs should begin at petal fall, with Rally commonly used as the first application

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM)

OFM traps are active across southern New Jersey, with biofix set for April 7 in South NJ and April 15 for most counties in North NJ.

Degree-day accumulation should be tracked from this date to properly time first-generation management. The first insecticides for first generation Oriental Fruit Moth control should be applied at 170-200 degree days (base 45 deg F) after biofix. This timing generally coincides with petal fall in peaches. Do not apply insecticides until all bloom is off regardless of degree day timing. No Insecticides for OFM should be needed where Mating Disruption is implemented.

As blocks move through petal fall, growers should begin preparing for first cover applications targeting OFM larvae. Timings can be calculated using the degree day calculator at the NEWA website by choosing the weather station nearest your farm, entering the biofix date as the start date, and choosing base 45 in the “degree day type” menu.

Keep in mind that plum curculio is also active at petal fall so an insecticide that targets both pests should be selected.

Scale

• Delayed dormant oil applications are complete for most orchards.
• Continue monitoring historically infested blocks and plan for crawler management later in the season if populations persist.

Green Peach Aphid

• GPA colonies begin forming sometime during bloom. Examine trees for the presence of colonies from pink to shuck split.
• Continue scouting as terminals expand and colonies begin to establish.
• Count the number of colonies on ten trees and use a treatment threshold:
  • Nectarines: 1 colony per tree
  • Peaches: 2–3 colonies per tree

Petal Fall Considerations

Insecticide applications can resume at petal fall

• Target key pests including:
  • OFM (timed by degree-days from biofix)
  • Plum curculio
  • Tarnished plant bug and other catfacing isnects
  • Green peach aphid

Early applications should focus on preventing the establishment of first-generation pests, particularly in blocks with a history of pressure

Recommended Petal Fall Options

• OFM / Leafrollers:
  • Altacor, Delegate, Besiege, Voliam Flexi
• Plum Curculio / Catfacing Insects:
  • Imidan, Avaunt, Actara, pyrethroids (e.g., Warrior II, Lambda-Cy)
• Green Peach Aphid:
  • Assail, Actara, Admire Pro

• Most peach and nectarine varieties in southern New Jersey are now at petal fall to early shuck split, while northern counties are at full bloom.
• Development has progressed rapidly under recent warm temperatures and will continue advancing quickly with favorable weather.
• Brown rot risk remains present, particularly during wetting events, with young fruitlets susceptible through shuck split.
• Maintain fungicide coverage through petal fall and into early cover, especially ahead of rainfall.
• OFM biofix was set for 4/7 for southern counties and 4/15 for northern counties, and growers should continue tracking degree-day accumulation to time first-generation management.
• Insecticide applications can resume at petal fall, targeting key pests including OFM, plum curculio, and green peach aphid.
• Delayed dormant oil timing has passed; focus should shift to in-season insect monitoring and management.
• Continue scouting for green peach aphid, with treatment thresholds of 1 colony/tree in nectarines and 2–3 colonies/tree in peaches.
• Continued scouting and timely applications will be critical over the next 7–10 days as crop development and pest pressure increase.