Fruit Crops Edition - Blueberry Section

Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.
 
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January 23, 2019

Spotted Lanternfly Basics Webinars

In conjunction with the New York State IPM Program and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Northeastern IPM Center will host a collection of webinars, titled “Spotted Lanternfly Basics.” Each webinar will focus on, and be tailored to, a specific commodity group:

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Grape and Apple Industries (Feb. 26, 2019, 1:00 p.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d_3KfxQ9SuKHyhk6pM7NCA

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Hops, Berry, and Vegetable Growers (Feb. 26, 2019, 10:00 a.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ONViZLocSBCOKIv-sjoZVg

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Christmas Tree Growers (Mar. 4, 2019, 10:00 a.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7eehVeBvSBOgM3aTXOtaew

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Nursery, Greenhouse, and Landscape Industries (Mar. 4, 2019, 1:00 p.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u5mYQOHMSESWFcNoftt2Nw

All webinars will follow a similar format that covers spotted lanternfly biology, identification, and hosts, monitoring and management strategies, and a regulatory update. While the content may be relevant to audiences throughout the Northeast, management practices covered will be specific to New York. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions.

For more information and registration links, go to:

http://neipmc.org/go/mYey

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
December 19, 2018

Update Your Peach Harvest Windows!

Rutgers Tree Fruit Breeding program, spearheaded by Dr. Joseph Gofredda, continues to release new varieties, giving growers more options to choose from. Five new and exciting Peach and Nectarine varieties were developed after extensive multi-year evaluations at several location in New Jersey, representing different agro-climates. Additionally, three-year post-harvest evaluations of fruit quality were performed at Pomology Lab at Rutgers Agriculture Research and Extension Center (RAREC) in Bridgeton. Fruit and tree characteristics of these new peach and nectarine varieties are described below. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
October 31, 2018

Time to Hill-Up your Grapevines is NOW!

Winter injury is a crucial limiting factor to wine grape production in the New Jersey. Following the harsh winter of 2013-14, almost 85% of vineyards reported various degrees of cold damage. Often, the cold injury results in the development of Crown gall disease, which causes gall formation around the trunk and graft unions, which can lead to vine decline or death. One particularly useful way to reduce winter injury is to protect the graft union from the cold by covering, or Hilling-up, the base of the vines with soil to protect the graft union. Right time to hill-up is after the harvest and before the ground is hard frozen – that is now!

Factsheet 1264 https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1264/ details the following important aspects of hilling-up to protect the graft union from cold damage.

  • The principle of Hilling-up – How the soil works, both as a thermal mass that holds the heat and insulator that slows heat loss.
  • How to perform effective hilling-up using available and specialized implements.
  • Cost benefits of using the implements.
  • Challenges such as, timing, preventing damage to the drip lines and to trunks during hilling-up; and how to address those challenges.
  • The process of hilling down in the spring to prevent root formation above the graft union and proper weed management.
Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
September 18, 2018

Fruit IPM for 9/19/18

Apples:

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): BMSB presence is spotty and still much higher than it was earlier in the summer. Now that apples (and pears) are the only fruit present for BMSB to feed on, growers must have a program to address this pressure. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit
September 5, 2018

Fruit IPM for 09/06/18

Peach:

Peachtree Borer (PTB) and Lesser Peachtree Borer (LPTB): Now is the time to treat for peachtree borers and lesser borers. PTB has one generation per year, while LPTB and 2 generations per year. Over the last 10 years PTB has caused more problems than LPTB. It is not unusual to find multiple borer larvae in a single mature tree. At minimum this is a stress that the trees do not need to survive the winter and be productive for the following season. Too many larvae can kill the tree, and in young trees only 1-2 larvae can kill the tree. The trick is to apply insecticide soon after most of the eggs have been laid, which is now, and before the larvae get too established in the trunk. Lorsban has been the best product available for this use, and must be used now after the fruit is off and while the larvae have just emerged. Make sure to apply liberal amounts of water in a high volume soaking spray directed at the trunk. This is likely the last year that Lorsban will be able to be used. When Lorsban is gone, mating disruption will need to take its place, and applied in the Spring. Other insecticides are also labeled for this pest, but they have been shown to be less effective. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit
September 4, 2018

Stinger 24(c) Special Local Need Label for Perennial Weed Control in Blueberries

The 24(c) Special Local Need Label for Stinger® that had expired on December 31, 2017 has finally been renewed up to December 31, 2020.

Stinger® is especially useful in blueberry for controlling composite and legume weeds. Common composite weeds found in our orchards include Canada thistle and other thistles, goldenrod species, aster species, common dandelion, mugwort (wild chrysanthemum), horseweed (marestail), and ragweed species. Legume weeds include vetch species and clover species.

Golden Rod

Deep rooted perennials like goldenrod require multiple Stinger applications

 

The 24(c) Special Local Need Label for Stinger® is associated with some restrictions:

  •             Preharvest Interval (PHI): 30 days
  •             Maximum Stinger® amount per acre per year: 10.6 fl oz
  •             Maximum Stinger® amount per application: 4 to 5.3 fl oz/a depending upon weed species
  •             Rainfastness: 5 hours
  •             Maximum Stinger® amount per acre per year: 10.6 fl oz
  •             Stinger® can not be air-applied or chemigated

 

 

The application of Stinger® should be timed to match the emergence of the perennial weeds in the spring when the carbohydrate food reserves in the plant are at the lowest point. Treatment at this time reduces the weed’s chance of recovery and survival. Optimum results controlling deep rooted and hard to control perennial weeds, including Canada thistle, perennial asters, goldenrod species, and mugwort (wild chrysanthemum) will be obtained if the Stinger®® application is split.

  • First application: apply Stinger® at the rate of 1/3 pint/acre after blueberry bloom, in late April when the weed is emerging. Some weeds can “survive” for months on established existing foliage even though Stinger® suppresses all new growth. Tank-mix with Gramoxone to increase the spectrum of weeds controlled and kill existing foliage of perennial asters, goldenrod species and mugwort.
  • Second application: Apply another one third pint of Stinger® immediately after harvest in mid-summer. Spray the second application even though no growth of the target weed is evident. The second application is essential for the elimination of the hard to kill established perennial weeds. If the second application is skipped, expect to see the weed re-emerge in late August or September.

Stinger® is both preemergence residual herbicide and a postemergence foliar absorbed herbicide. The initial twisting and curling observed after application to susceptible species is due to the foliar absorption. Control of established perennials is due to residual activity of Stinger® in the soil which prevents regrowth from the roots.  In certain species, such as mugwort, Stinger® prevents regrowth but does not kill the mature leaves. The plant will survive unless another herbicide, such as Gramoxone® SL 2.0 or Rely® 280, is used to defoliate the plant.

Do NOT apply Stinger® in a hand held sprayer used to “spray until wet”.  Stinger® is a residual herbicide that must be applied on a rate per acre basis.  When treating “patches” of perennial weeds, apply the recommended rate per acre with a calibrated sprayer.  Treat ten to fifteen feet beyond the weed “patch” on all sides.  Spray the sod or row middles adjacent to the weed “patch” in the row.

The label is available online on the CDMS website at the following address: http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld02P048.pdf

The use of any pesticide inconsistent with the label directions is a violation of Federal law.®

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blueberry