With weird weather often comes weird physiological disorders (on top of our summer fruit rots). Often confused with hail injury, disease or insect damage, these physiological disorders are marring the appearance of many apples. Symptoms of bitter pit include circular or even irregular sunken spots on the fruit surface, beneath brownish or streaked dead regions[Read More…]
With harvest around the corner for many fruit crops, I thought this would be a good time to remind readers about our email lists. Various forms of social media is used by just about everyone in today’s society. While Facebook and Twitter are much more commonly used than email, there is still a place for[Read More…]
Grape harvest is just about to get started in the southern part of the state. Growers will start harvesting early varieties next week. Most varieties are slightly ahead of normal this year. In Lafayette, early varieties are at full veraison and should be ready to harvest in the next couple of weeks. We generally harvest[Read More…]
June bearing strawberries are “short day” plants that initiate flower buds in response to short days (less than 14 hours day length). Day length for Indianapolis drops below 14 hours about August 10. As we get into late summer, strawberry plants respond to shorter days by setting the flower buds that will result in the[Read More…]
Strawberries are primarily grown in the matted row system in Indiana, in which bare-root strawberry plants are set in the spring, fruit is first harvested in the second year and plantings are renovated each year for a few seasons. Growers in Southern Indiana have expressed interest in growing strawberries in the annual plasticultural system. With[Read More…]
Stone Fruit: At our orchard, we lost our stone fruit with the -20 degree F temperatures this winter. For those of you fortunate enough to have fruit, frequent and heavy rain present problems multiple problems, namely bacterial spot and brown rot. Three weeks before harvest, cease bacterial spot sprays, even though bacterial spot may continue[Read More…]
Although PristineTM was selected in 1982, its history goes back to the early days of the PRI breeding program. From an original cross of Rome Beauty with Malus floribunda 821, selections and hybridizations were made incorporating Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Starking Delicious and Cazumat along the way. The cross that resulted in PristineTM was Coop 10[Read More…]
ReTain (AVG) is a plant growth regulator that blocks the production of ethylene. When ReTain is applied to apple, several ripening processes are slowed, including preharvest drop, fruit flesh softening, starch disappearance, and red color formation. In order for ReTain to be effective it must be applied well in advance of the climacteric rise in[Read More…]
Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran. This material may be available in alternative formats. 1-888-EXT-INFO Disclaimer: Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.