Crop Management
The last few weeks has been a dark time for our industry. We have lost some of the stalwarts of the fruit and vegetable industries. We remember: George A. Adrian, 95, Indianapolis Thomas E. Roney, 70, Greenfield Gene M. Wild, 90, Zionsville John Hilger, Ft. Wayne Abner J. Horrall, 85, Bicknell While these folks came[Read More…]
We’re getting close to the time when growers need to make chemical thinning decisions – for many the most perplexing and risky decision they will make all year. This is usually a tricky call to make, even more so when we have had spring frosts. Luckily in most places the spring frosts have not been[Read More…]
Although we started off the spring extremely early, an extended cool period has delayed crop development, reduce risk of frost, and made many growers feel a lot more comfortable. As can be seen from Figure 1, we are still tracking early in terms of growing degree days, but not as early as 2012. We are[Read More…]
Uneven bud break is affecting some of the apple varieties at Meigs (Fig. 1). This is usually associated with apples that grow in areas with mild winters, like the one we just had. Apple trees in warmer climates often demonstrate uneven bud breaking and bloom times. With some trees exhibiting everything from silver tip to[Read More…]
The temperature data shown in Figure 1 will come as no surprise to anyone. This spring we had a very early warm period, much earlier than anytime this decade and even earlier than 2012. This started in mid February and continued for a couple of weeks. Thankfully since the start of March, we returned to[Read More…]
Spring freeze damage can be a significant economic problem for Midwest grape growers. Widespread damage occurred in 2007 and 2012 when warm temperatures in March were followed by freezing temperatures in April. Obviously this year we have had a very warm February, but more normal March. So far it looks like bud swell is on[Read More…]
March is a good time to finish pruning summer-bearing brambles. Last years fruited canes should be removed now if they were not removed last summer or fall. Remove weak or spindly floricanes and thin to 4-6 canes per foot of row. Laterals on blackberries and black raspberries should be shortened to about pencil diameter on[Read More…]
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…]