Tree Fruit Edition

Seasonal updates on insects, diseases, weeds, maturity dates and cultural practices impacting only tree fruit.
 
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August 30, 2016

Constriction Canker of Peach: Orchard Rehabilitation

Peach and nectarine orchards in New Jersey continue to sustain considerable shoot death and fruit loss from constriction canker, caused by the fungal plant pathogen Phomospis amygdali. Many of our research orchards at RAREC this season had an above average number of cankers. The majority of infections that took place last fall and this past spring have girdled the shoots, resulting in dead or blighted branches. Any fruit distal to the cankers on these shoots have already fallen off or remain attached, slowly drying up and shriveling. This yield loss directly impacts your bottom line.

Breaking the Disease Cycle

Cankers on infected shoots are the source of inoculum. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit Tagged With:
August 18, 2016

Fruit IPM for 8/18/16

 

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Trap counts still show captures above the treatment threshold of 6/trap. Treatments are needed anywhere trap counts exceed 6 males per trap, even at this late stage of the season on any variety that is at least 7-10 days away from harvest. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
July 28, 2016

Fruit IPM for 7/28/16

Peach:

Cat-facing Insects, Tarnished Plant Bug (TPB) and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): BMSB traps show only very low levels of bugs. Where ground cover consists of numerous flowering weeds, TPB population is very high. Up to 37 adults and nymphs per 50 sweeps were seen this past week in northern counties. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
July 20, 2016

Fruit IPM for 7/19/16

 

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): The third flight is underway in southern counties, and about to start in northern counties. Populations are low in peaches, but higher in apples. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
July 13, 2016

Fruit IPM for 7-12-2016

Fruit IPM for 7/12/16

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): The second flight is underway in all counties. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fruit, Tree Fruit
July 11, 2016

Size Peaches with Supplemental Irrigation

NJ peach orchards demand supplemental irrigation when drought weather patterns persist. Peaches gain up to 70% of their final volume during the last 30 days on the tree, so sizing fruit to their full potential requires supplemental irrigation. July and August are critical months for fruit sizing for most varieties. Inadequate irrigation during critical stages of fruit development results in smaller fruits and irreversible size/marketing losses. Irrigating closer to harvest will not increase fruit size. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit