Tree Fruit Edition

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September 2, 2025 and

Late August and Early September Peach Varieties – New and Standard

Cooler temperatures and sunny days during the last 10 days have been ideal for full color and flavor development of late August and Early September peach varieties. Descriptions of fruit and tree characteristics, challenges, and laboratory evaluations of fruit physical and chemical properties (Table 1) of important varieties in this harvest window are described below. Understanding these characteristics is essential for selecting new varieties or replacing existing ones. Note that these varieties were evaluated in southern New Jersey; as a result, the harvest dates could be a few days later for the Central and Northern New Jersey orchards.

SelenaTM is a new yellow, melting flesh peach from the Rutgers Fruit Breeding program. It has an excellent firmness, slightly fibrous flesh around the pit, and ripens during and between ‘Jersey queen’ and ‘Encore’. Very large fruited with an attractive 50-80% mottled red and yellow background. The fruit hangs well on the tree and has an excellent balance of sweet and acidic flavor. This variety exhibits a low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Most importantly, like Gloria, the bloom is delayed and extended, resulting in trees always bearing a crop even during the hard frost years. Fruit maintains firmness after achieving commercial maturity and doesn’t drop fruit, like Encore and Jersey Queen.

TianaTM is a new yellow freestone melting flesh peach, ripening between ‘Cresthaven’ and ‘Encore’, and overlaps with Encore and Selena. It has large fruit with an excellent balance of acidity and high sweetness.  Skin is attractive, 50-75% mottled red-on-yellow background.  This productive variety exhibits low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Like Gloria, the bloom is delayed and extended, resulting in trees always bearing a crop even during the hard frost years. Fruit maintains its firmness on the tree after achieving commercial maturity. It is a good candidate for replacing Encore.

Jerseyqueen is a very large, oblong to ovate, 55-65% scarlet red over a yellow ground color; yellow-fleshed, freestone peach, ripening August 25-28, approximately 31 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm with a sweet and mildly tangy flavor. The tree is very vigorous and moderately productive. Challenges: It has mild to medium susceptibility to bacterial spot. The variety is not fully productive on many peach sites and tends to produce doubles.

Flamin Fury® PF#27 is an attractive, large to very large, globose to ovate, 60-70% crimson red over a greenish yellow ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach, ripening August 25-28, approximately 31 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm with very good flavor. Challenges: It has a medium susceptibility to bacterial spot.

Flamin Fury® PF 28-007 is a large to very large, globose to ovate, 50-80% dark crimson red over greenish yellow ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone ripening August 27-31, approximately 34 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very firm with a sweet and tangy flavor, with some red around the pit. The tree is vigorous and productive with medium leaf susceptibility to bacterial spot. This is an attractive late-season variety with great size and color. Fruit hangs well and has more color than Cresthaven.

Flameprince is a medium-large, firm, attractive 50-70% crimson red over a yellow ground color, yellow/white-fleshed, freestone peach ripening September 2-5, approximately 38 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very firm, sweet, and mildly tangy. The tree is moderately vigorous and productive with medium susceptibility to bacterial spot. Challenge: Note: The fruit color develops early; hence, picking by size is recommended. Three to four pickings may be required to achieve a uniform crop.

AutumnstarTM is a large, globose to slightly ovate, 60-80% crimson red over a yellowish green ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach ripening September 4-7, approximately 41 days after Redhaven. The fruit is attractive for a late-season variety. Fruit size is medium-large.  The flesh is firm with a good balance of sweet and acidic flavor. The tree is vigorous and productive with low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Challenge: Some tree survival problems have been noted. The performance of this variety has varied from year to year. In some years, it’s hard to size to medium-large size.

Flamin Fury PF 36 is a globose, firm, yellow-fleshed free stone peach ripening during the first week of September—one of the best late-season peach varieties. Fruit is large to very large, sweet, mildly tangy, and mostly uniform in size. The tree is vigorous and highly productive with no bacterial spot.

Augustprince is a globose to slightly ovate, 60-90% crimson red over a yellowish red ground color, yellow-fleshed freestone peach ripening August 31 to September 3 or 37 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very firm, melting, stringy, with a very good, slightly acidic flavor. The tree is vigorous, productive, and has low susceptibility to bacterial spot. This sister variety ripens close to Flame Prince but consistently has better size and firmness.

Some of the excellent, yellow-fleshed varieties with few serious challenges

Encore is a firm fleshed variety with decent tolerance to bacterial spot. The tree is productive and cold-hardy, and the fruit has decent eating quality. However, it has a drop tendency. Fruit blush development has been unsatisfactory in some years. Fayette: High susceptibility to bacterial spot. A popular variety. Laurol is firm-fleshed, peach with a very sweet and tangy flavor. It has a high susceptibility to bacterial spots. It can get tiny splits at the stem end, which don’t always open, but water can get in, resulting in black gum around the pit.

White-fleshed Peach

August Rose is an attractive late-season white-fleshed peach harvested 24 days after Redhaven and a few days after the Sugar Giant. It has a longer harvest window because commercially mature fruit retains firmness on the tree. The freestone fruit is very firm and has a delicious flavor and melting texture. 60-90% medium red on cream and sizes 2 ¾ – 3 inches in diameter, somewhat nonuniform in size. It is a very sweet, low-acid fruit that hangs well on the tree after commercial maturity. This tree is tolerant of bacterial leaf spot and constriction canker. It can fill the gap between Sugar Giant and Snow Giant.

Other white-fleshed peaches have serious challenges.

Snow King is challenging to grow in New Jersey due to its high susceptibility to bacterial spots and brown rot. Snowfire has a high susceptibility to bacterial spot. Snowfire has the same problems as Snow King – low productivity and high susceptibility to bacterial spot and brown rot. It ripens earlier than Snow King and has less red skin color. Opale. It is also very susceptible to brown rot. Benedict: The flavor is subacid and very good. The tree is upright, spreading, vigorous, moderately productive, and has medium to high susceptibility to bacterial spots. This peach ripens just after Sugar Giant but is not as attractive.

Articles on Previous Season Peach and Nectarine Varieties:

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
September 2, 2025

Updates from EPA for Pesticide Users on How to Navigate Mitigation Measures to Protect Endangered Species

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of an online tool to help farmers and applicators implement mitigation measures to protect endangered species from pesticides. The mitigation measures were established to reduce exposure from pesticides for nontarget organisms as listed under the Endangered Species Act. Levels of mitigation that are required on pesticide labels can include mitigations for spray drift, runoff, and buffer zones. In April 2025, EPA released a mitigation menu website that includes information on these measures and how to calculate if a pesticide user has incorporated the number of “points” associated with the mitigation measures required by the pesticide labelling. It is the responsibility of the pesticide user to ensure that all pesticide labelling requirements are met, and requirements will vary among labels and products used.

The new tool released by EPA, the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM) is a mobile application that helps farmers and pesticide users use the EPA’s mitigation menu and stay compliant when applying pesticides for agricultural crop uses. The tool will combine relevant information and calculations needed to help farmers determine whether the necessary level of mitigation has been met before applying a pesticide.

If you are interested in learning more about the mitigation menu and available tools, the EPA will be hosting a public webinar on September 16th at 2 PM Eastern Time. Register here for the webinar.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
August 28, 2025 , and

Fruit IPM Report August 26 2025

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Overall, OFM trap captures have been low and treatments should be over for the third generation flight statewide. Additional treatments should be made if trap captures are over 6 moths per trap.

Scale Insects: Scale crawler emergence is past peak and declining. White Peach scale has a third generation in September and San Jose scale may have a third generation in October. Options at this point include Group 4A products labelled for scale including Assail, and the bioinsecticide Venerate. Venerate has a 0-day PHI, making it useful for blocks near or at harvest (Figure 1).

Figure 1. San Jose scale on apple.

Lesser Peachtree Borer (LPTB) and Peachtree Borer (PTB): Trap counts for borers have been high at several farms this season throughout the state (Figure 2). Where mating disruption is not being used, trunk sprays using pyrethroids can be applied early to mid-September followed by an additional application in mid to late September. Since this would be a labor intensive practice it would be most efficient to give priority to younger and most productive orchards. See the NJ Tree Fruit Production for effective materials and rates.

Figure 2. Lesser peachtree borer adult.

Apples and Pears:

Summer Diseases: Disease control is over for Early season apple varieties. Mid to late season varieties will need further applications on a two-week schedule until mid-September for sooty blotch and fly speck. See the NJ Tree Fruit Production guide for effective materials.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB): Brown Marmorated Stink bug and native stinkbug populations have been low this season, although we have seen an increase in trap captures at some farms. If stinkbugs are a concern for your orchard, see the NJ Tree Fruit Production guide for effective materials.

Codling Moth (CM): Most orchards have very low CM pressure. Additional treatments should be made if trap captures are over 5 moths/trap.

Phenology Table: Based on annual observations made in Gloucester County.

Pest Event or Growth Stage Approximate Date 2025 Observed Date
 Bud Swell (Redhaven/PF-17)  March 23 +/- 15 Days March 30
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious March 31 +/- 13 Days March 30
Pink Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) April 4 +/- 15 Days April 1
Tight Cluster Red Delicious April 9 +/- 13 Days April 5
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) April 9 +/- 14 Days April 10
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) April 14 +/- 12 Days April 16
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) April 22 +/- 11 Days April 25
Petal Fall (Redhaven) April 22 +/- 10 Days April 19
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) April 27 +/- 13 Days May 2
Shuck Split (Redhaven) April 30 +/- 11 Days April 26
Pit Hardening June 15 +/- 9 Days June 15

Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Southern Counties

Week Ending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/5/2025 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4/12/2025 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
4/21/2025 0 0 0 0 36 0 1 0 0 0
4/27/2025 25 0 0 0 24 0 5 0 1 0
5/2/2025 517 0 4 0 12 0 6 0 13 0
5/9/2025 159 4 10 0 3 16 5 4 46 0
5/16/2025 91 11 6 0 1 36 2 14 69 0
5/23/2025 299 21 3 0 1 23 1 26 23 0
5/30/2025 399 14 2 0 0 41 1 11 10 3
6/6/2025 733 13 1 0 0 36 2 12 29 1
6/13/2025 684 19 2 1 0 81 2 17 22 8
6/20/2025 724 24 2 0.5 1 60 1 23 19 12
6/27/2025 932 5 1 0.8 1 40 0 5 24 14
7/4/2025 643 0 0 0.75 1 17 0 0 6 16
7/11/2025 194 0 0 0.5 0 18 8 0 24 15
7/18/2025 190 0 0 1 0 16 2 1 5 12
7/25/2025 222 2 1 1.6 0 16 1 2 12 21
8/1/2025 450 1 0 2 1 24 2 1 21 18
8/8/2025 523 2 1 2 0 35 5 2 30 19
8/15/2025 595 1 0 2 0 37 1 2 32 15
8/22/2025 125 5 0 3.75 1 49 4 4 40 14

Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Northern Counties

Week Ending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB AMBROSIA BEETLE
4/5/2025 387 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4/21/2025 435 0 0 0 0 0 1.3 0 0 0 0
4/27/2025 26 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 72
5/2/2025 86 0 0.33 0 72.5 0 47.2 0 0 0 136
5/9/2025 56 0 5.3 0 58.8 0 22.9 0 0 0 145
5/16/2025 13.75 2.6 7.3 0 4 0 5 0 0 0 50.5
5/23/2025 4.8 10.3 10.5 0 0.6 31.25 4.2 0 14.6 1 22.2
5/30/2025 2.2 4.8 1.8 0 0 12.4 9.6 0 9.6 1.9 22.1
6/6/2025 3 4.83 2.8 0.25 0 20 4.1 0 21.2 1.8 40.3
6/13/2025 65 20 11.4 0.6 0 12.3 4 0 10.5 1.5 59.2
6/20/2025 26 26 8 0.75 1 13 4.5 0 11 0.75 52
6/27/2025 145 19 6 1.3 6 35 5.4 0 16 1.6 38
7/4/2025 212 6 3 0.6 12.5 40 2 0 8.4 1.1 27
7/11/2025 125 2.5 0.5 0.14 5 41 3 0 20 4.5 48
7/18/2025 64 0.5 0.4 0.16 2 42 2 0 8.4 1.9 64
7/25/2025 110.5 0.4 2.3 0.24 7.5 44 4 0 6.8 12.2 69
8/1/2025 132 0.5 2.8 0.4 5.7 42.5 2.9 0 8 6.2 71.5
8/8/2025 157 1.9 0.6 0.41 6 27.8 8.3 0 10.8 5.5 78
8/15/2025 36.8 2 2.6 0.3 2.9 25.8 2 0 11.6 4.8 24
8/22/2025 25 6 1.4 0.05 1.6 40.4 7 0 18 4.8 67.6

Grape

Figure 3. Sour rot of grapes.

Disease management continues to focus on downy and powdery mildew and also bunch rots (Figure 3).

Downy mildew has been particularly prevalent this season in vineyards throughout the state. Refer to the NJ Commercial Grape Production Guide for information on control.

Figure 4. Spotted lanternfly on grapevine.

Grape Berry Moth: The timing for the third generation is past. In some hot summers a fourth generation may occur, however no further treatments should be needed, especially where insecticides are being applied for Spotted lanternfly and Spotted-wing drosophila.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF): SLF adults are now appearing in vineyards in low numbers mostly on vineyard edges (Figure 4). As we move into September adult migration will increase and at that point growers should apply materials with long residual efficacy. More information on biology and control can be found from Penn State.

 

Blueberry

As we look to postharvest management in blueberries, the focus is on sharp-nosed leafhopper, scales, black shadow, and fall weed management. Sharp-nosed leafhopper and scale crawler numbers remain low but will continue to be monitored into September.

For weekly reports on blueberry pests and recommendations read the Rutgers Blueberry Bulletin.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Wine Grape
August 26, 2025

Spanish Course for Ag Workforce – Registration Open

People shaking hands in a field with the sun setting behind themThe Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education will host a course on ‘Spanish for Ag and Horticulture Workforce’ from January 16-March 6, 2026. This is an online, self-paced course with approximately 21 hours of course content designed to help participants study conversational Spanish and gain technical vocabulary specific to those in the agriculture and horticulture workforce.

There is a registration fee of $825 per person. Register by January 9, 2026 for the early bird registration rate of $795.

For more information and to register, visit https://cpe.rutgers.edu/spanish-for-ag-and-horticulture-workforce.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With:
August 18, 2025 and

Mid-August Peach and Nectarine Varieties for New Jersey – New and Standard

Gloria: Developed by the Rutgers Tree Fruit Breeding program. A large, globose to slightly ovate, 60-90% scarlet red over yellow ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach ripening from August 16-22. The flesh is very firm with low acid and good, very sweet and sub-acid flavor. The tree is vigorous, spreading, and very productive with low susceptibility to bacterial spot. A unique variety because of its very attractive color, low acidity, and lasting flesh firmness. The bloom is late and extended compared to other varieties; hence, in a frost year, Gloria is more likely to avoid full crop loss. It has a very firm flesh that is slow to soften. Fruit physical and chemical (taste) properties of standard and new peach varieties grown in mid-August are described in Table 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
August 15, 2025 and

Pre-Harvest Drop Control and Harvest Management for Apples

For growers interested in using these products on Early/Mid-Season apple varieties, now is the time to consider applying them.  Think high value varieties such as early season Honeycrisp.

As apples mature they produce the hormone ethylene.  Ethylene induces stem loosening which results in pre-harvest drop of apples.  Luckily there are several tools that when applied at optimal times can aid in the management of pre-harvest drop of apples.

*Prior to the application of any product though, remember to read and follow the product label, because the label is the law.

 

Plant Growth Regulator Options for Apple Harvest Management

Active Ingredient: AVG (aminoethoxyvinylglycine)

ReTain 

This product slows starch disappearance, fruit softening, stem loosening and red color development.

Benefits include:

Expansion of the harvest window by minimizing pre-harvest drop and retaining fruit firmness.
Enhancement of fruit size since fruit are given more time to hang onto the tree.
Color enhancement due to exposure to improved weather for fruit coloring (warm sunny days and cool nights).

Application Timing: For maximum efficacy ReTain must be applied 4 weeks prior to harvest.

Single Pick Varieties

For single pick early season varieties, establish the ‘usual’ harvest time for the variety, and if the season is running early adjust the date earlier (accordingly).  Once an accurate estimated harvest date is established count back four weeks.  This timepoint plus 7 days is the spray window for ReTain for that variety.

Calculate the spray timing for later season, single pick varieties in a similar way.  However, later varieties generally do not need harvest date adjustment due to seasonal variation in the same way early season varieties do.

Multiple Pick Varieties i.e. Gala and Honeycrisp

Spray timing for these varieties is 7 to 14 days prior to harvest/first pick.  Note that ReTain will not affect the first harvest/pick but will provide stop drop control for later season picks.

Variety Response to ReTain and Rate:

*When applying ReTain be sure to include 100% Organosilicate surfactant @ 12 ounces/100 gallons.
*Ensure there will be 6 hours of drying time after the application.

 

Active Ingredient: 1-MCP (1-Methylcyclopropene)

Harvista

Much like ReTain this product slows starch disappearance, fruit softening, red color development and pre-harvest drop.

Application Timing: It should be applied within 3 days prior to harvest, much closer to the time of harvest than a ReTain application.  This product is a bit more complicated to use in that it must be applied via a proprietary in-line injector system.

 

Active Ingredient: NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid)

NAA (Multiple Formulations)

This product provides what is considered a rescue treatment for control of fruit drop.

Application Timing: Optimum timing of spray is a couple days prior to harvest, when the first fruit begins to drop.

One application of 10 ppm NAA will provide 7-10 days of drop control.
A two-part spray of 10 ppm, one a couple days prior to harvest and a second 5 days later will provide 10-14 days of drop control.
Keep in mind it takes ~2-3 days for the sprays to take effect.

*Apply with a nonionic or organosilicate surfactant.
*Spray when the temperatures are in the mid 70’s.  If the temperature is too hot, fruit ripening can be accelerated.

 

Table 1. A quick comparison of compounds registered as stop drops.

Parameter ReTain Fruitone, PoMaxa, or Refine Harvista
Active Ingredient AVG NAA 1-MCP
What Is Blocked Ethylene production Stem loosening Ethylene action
Drop Delay (Approximate) 10–14 days 5–7 days 10–14 days
Fruit Ripening Slowed Advanced Slowed
Fruit Color Delayed No effect Somewhat delayed
Fruit Softening Delayed No change or advanced Delayed
Applied (Relative to Drop) 2-4 weeks before Just prior to Just prior to
Rescue Option? No Yes Yes
Days to Take Effect >7 ~2 ~2
Split Sprays Helpful Yes Yes Not applicable
REI 12 hours 48 hours 4 hours
PHI 7 days 2 days 3 days

Cited from 2024-2025 Penn State Tree Fruit Production Guide page 79.

 

For additional details on utilizing plant growth regulators for harvest management read:

2025/2026 New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide Chapter 10.
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=e002

Apple PGRs – Prevention of Preharvest Drop in Apple Orchards – Production and Harvesting – Fruit – Forage and Food Crops (psu.edu)

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit