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 Berry Crops[Read More]
Crop Management
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 about Pristine™ apple[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 about Timing Retain Sprays[Read More]
Preharvest drop refers to the process where fruit fall from the tree prior to harvest. Not all apple varieties are affected, but with some, such as McIntosh and Pristine, pre-harvest drop can be extreme. Several growth regulator materials are available to growers to help reduce pre-harvest drop. These materials are often referred to as “stop-drop”…Read more about Control Of Preharvest Drop with NAA[Read More]
Making the decision on when to harvest can be a very tricky and complicated issue. The longer you intend to store the fruit, the more precise your timing needs to be. For summer apples, most growers only intend to store fruit until their better quality fall apples come on stream, so storage times beyond a…Read more about Determining Apple Maturity[Read More]
Approximately 80 fruit and vegetable growers attended the Society’s summer field day last week hosted by Tuttle Orchards in Greenfield. Thanks go to Ruth-Ann, Thomas, Mike and Helen and all the Roney family and crew who made this event such a success. Those attending also had the opportunity to pause for a moment to remember…Read more about Indiana Hort Society Summer Field Day[Read More]
Veraison, the start of the fruit ripening process, signals the final opportunity for effective canopy management and fruit thinning in grapes. Once veraison has started, thinning and canopy management are far less effective in improving overall fruit quality. Growers should assess the need for fruit thinning by evaluating cluster number and size relative to shoot…Read more about Pre-veraison Canopy Management and Fruit Thinning in Grapes[Read More]
Summer bearing brambles are showing the full extent of the freeze and frost damage from earlier this year. Many floricanes are failing to produce a decent crop. Primocanes are growing well and are initiating flowers now. Early types are beginning to bloom. Grape are at bunch closure with veraison not far away for early varieties….Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
Since 2012, apple powdery mildew(PM) has been part of new normal of apple growing in Indiana. As many of you remember (but would like to forget), 2012 was the year when much of the state lost the crop due to a late season freeze. This was then followed by one of the driest years on…Read more about Powdery Mildew[Read More]
