In just two weeks there has been significant bud development on our fruit trees here in Lafayette, IN. Our Shiro Plums are in full bloom and the bees are busy pollinating these trees. There is one Apricot and some early season Apple trees in our mixed variety blocks that are also in full bloom. All[Read More…]
Pome Fruits
Something happened when the calendar switched from March to April. Spring finally sprung. As we discussed in the last issue of FFF, spring temperatures are so important because the rate of crop development in the spring is directly related to how warm it is. Here in Lafayette, April average temperatures have been in the 50s[Read More…]
As we continue to walk on really expensive eggshells in 2023, it’s important to recognize that fungicide availability along with the effectiveness of available fungicides (and their price) will impact orchard, vineyard and berry patch management 2023. For all growers, the number 1 problem continues to be fungicide resistance in a diversity of fruit crops.[Read More…]
Purdue Extension presented its first Fruit, Vegetable and Hemp Field Day post-pandemic at the Meigs Ag Center in July 2022. Extension Specialists and Graduate Students presented specialty crop research to 45 attendees. Attendees had only good things to say about the event. ” Great information and research.” “Great variety of experiences and knowledge.” “I felt[Read More…]
We have had a warm winter and early spring, except for the negative temperatures we experienced right before Christmas. Some fruit crops are already beginning development in Lafayette, Indiana. Apples remain dormant except for some of the Honey Crisp blocks showing Silver Tip and a few Crab Apple varieties showing Green Tip. Majority of the[Read More…]
The Tools: Hand lens-10x or 15x -To correctly use a hand lens, place the lens directly in front of your eye and bring the sample you are examining towards the lens until the object comes into focus. Knife – good for cutting into stems or root tissue. Pruning shears- for taking samples – disinfest blades[Read More…]
Another warning for severe brown rot of stone fruits (apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, plum) (Fig. 1). Warm, wet, humid weather at harvest is particularly favorable for this fungal disease. Also, as fruit softens during the ripening process, it becomes much more susceptible to brown rot. Carefully picking and handling fruit to avoid injuries prevents infection[Read More…]
With apples over an inch in size, we traditionally consider that the window for hand thinning has closed. At this point, it’s unlikely we’ll see a thinning response either in terms of fruit size or in flower initiation for next year. But there’s still a good reason to consider some hand thinning. Many in the[Read More…]
