Check list: ~Indiana Disease management program for apples for 2018 is available at: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-201-W.pdf This information is identical to the Midwest fruit pest management guide, but provided in a table format and includes Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) Codes, REI, PHI and efficacy information for each product (Fig. 1). ~Reducing overwintering inoculum for apple scab:…Read more about Forewarned is Forearmed[Read More]
Crop Management
Spring freeze damage can be a significant economic problem for Midwest grape growers. Widespread damage occurred in 2007, 2012 and 2017 when warm temperatures in February and March were followed by freezing temperatures. Obviously this year has been very cool so far so there is hopefully less risk of early budbreak and frost damage. But,…Read more about Pruning to Adjust for Winter Injury and Avoid Spring Frost Damage to Grapes[Read More]
This winter was significantly colder than normal in the northern half of Indiana. Many areas north of “I-70” experienced temperatures between -15 and -20˚F in early January. That is cold enough to cause considerable cold injury to grapes, peaches, and blackberries. See the map below for minimum winter temperatures. We have evaluated crops at the…Read more about Determining Winter Injury in Grape Vines[Read More]
Summer rots continue to rear their ugly heads (Fig. 1). This year, we are even seeing them on late season apples like Evercrisp (Fig 2) and GoldRush. On the plus side, we are seeing some level of control with all fungicides in our trials (data will be presented at the Indiana Hort Congress); unfortunately,…Read more about Rot Redux[Read More]
Apple harvest is winding down with late varieties such as GoldRush and Pink Lady being harvested. Quality has continued to be good, although some stem-end cracking has shown up on some cultivars. We have continued to run about a week early throughout the season.
Fruit rots continue to pose a problem for those of us in the wetter parts of the state. Frequent rains and warm temperatures really set the stage for bitter rot, black rot, white rot, and even brown rot. Any rain event that produced more than 2” of rain would remove the majority of fungicide, meaning…Read more about Fruit Rots[Read More]
Grape harvest is in full swing across the state. The weather could not be more ideal. Warm sunny days and cool nights are ideal for fruit quality. Lack of major rainstorms is also a plus. This year is almost a complete opposite of 2016, when high temperatures and rain persisted through July and August, causing…Read more about Grape Harvest Continues[Read More]
June bearing strawberries are “short day” plants that set flower buds in response to short days. As we get into late summer, days shorten and strawberry plants respond by setting the flower buds that will result in the crop next spring. It is important to maintain appropriate nutrition and soil water status during this time….Read more about Fruit Bud Development in Strawberry[Read More]
Grapes are starting to ripen (veraison) in Lafayette. Marquette and Brianna are the earliest varieties and both are about 2 weeks from harvest. Floricane producing blackberry harvest continues. Primocane fruiting blackberries and raspberries are just getting started. Japanese beetles continue to be a major problem in addition to Spotted Wing Drosophila. Peach harvest is winding…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
Grape harvest is just about to get started in the southern part of the state. Early varieties will be harvested starting next week. Most varieties are slightly ahead of normal this year. In Lafayette, Marquette and Brianna are at full veraison and shold be ready to harvest in the next couple of weeks. We generally…Read more about 2017 Grape Harvest[Read More]