Last week a block of Fantasia nectarines was found to have a very small percentage of rot present. This week several more blocks were found with rotten fruit present. The common denominator between the three is that they were all mid – late season nectarines that had been just thinned or were being thinned during the severe weather pattern we just experienced. Fruit were injured or the stems knocked loose from either heavy downpours or breaking up clusters. In one orchard many of the rotten fruit were dropping so it is likely the stem had been compromised. Any type of injury in these weather conditions can lead to rot infection.
So what should you do?
- Don’t panic! Fruit should have a high degree of resistance at this point. Only fruit injured in some way should be susceptible to rot;
- Maintain good coverage with a full rate of captan during periods of unstable weather;
- If possible, remove all the rotten fruit from the orchard canopy. Rotten fruit on the ground can be removed by discing where sod middles are not maintained.
