Following a very early warm-up, temperatures cooled off the middle of March slowing crop development and bringing us back closer to normal. In southern areas, peaches are in full bloom, but only just showing a little pink in more northern areas. Apples are still in tight cluster and probably at least 10 days from full…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
Grapes
Grape harvest continues across the state. Overall fruit quality has been excellent, but maintaining that quality with all the rain recently is challenging. Thin skinned varieties have fruit cracking and rot problems. Primocane fruiting blackberry harvest continues into its fourth week on Black magic, with APF-45 just getting started. Heritage and Caroline primocane fruiting raspberries…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
Grape harvest is underway in the southern part of the state, and early varieties have been harvested in central Indiana. The recent storms and heavy rains could not have come at a worse time, especially for varieties near harvest, and tight clustered varieties such as Vignoles, Seyval Valvin muscat, etc. Excess rain causes fruit…Read more about Grapes: The Sour Rot Situation[Read More]
Spotted wing drosophila continue to plague raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and grape growers. I have had some reports of poor control. There are a number of reasons that control of any insect may be poor. If you are not getting the level of control you expect, here are a few things to consider. Is your sprayer…Read more about Spotted Wing Drosophila[Read More]
Grape harvest is just getting started in the southern part of the state. Early varieties have been harvested for the past week. Most varieties are slightly ahead of normal this year. Fruit quality overall is very good. Many vineyards are still recovering from the winter of 2014 so yields will still be below normal. With…Read more about Grape harvest 2016[Read More]
Plant nutritional status is important for all phases of plant growth and has a direct effect on vigor, fruitfulness, cold hardiness, and other factors. Tissue analysis is the most reliable means of determining plant nutritional status. Combined with soil testing, tissue analysis can help pinpoint the source of problems and determine what measures may be…Read more about Tissue analysis for grapes and small fruit[Read More]
Grape harvest has began in the southern part of the state and will begin in central areas over the next week or so. Early varieties are nearing full maturity while late varieties are just at, or not yet at veraison. Overall fruit quality looks excellent. Apple harvest continues. Summer varieties are mostly done and early…Read more about Crop conditions, current growth stages[Read More]
Populations of spotted wing drosophila continue to increase. As best I can tell, numbers are not at the devastating levels that they were a couple of years ago, but there are still plenty around to cause very serious injury to small fruit. Raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry growers should be on a regular spray program at…Read more about Spotted Wing Drosophila[Read More]