Grapes across the state are post bloom a week or more. As berries reach 3 to 5 weeks post bloom they become naturally resistant to infection by black rot and powdery mildew fungi. So our spray program can relax a bit. Growers normally extend to a 14 to 21 day schedule supported by regular scouting.[Read More…]
Bruce Bordelon
Professor Emeritus
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
The warm weather is pushing crop develop rapidly. Grapes are at bunch closure, summer red and black raspberry harvest has begun. Some primocane fruiting types are beginning to flower. Gooseberry and currant harvest has begun. Apples are 1-2 inches in diameter. Strawberry harvest is over and renovation has begun. The chemical thinning window has closed[Read More…]
Huber’s Orchard and Winery celebrated their 175th anniversary recently in Starlight. The Huber homestead, founded in 1843 by Simon Huber, has diversified into a multi-generational business now being led by 6th & 7th generation family members. A Welcome Ceremony and Press Conference kicked off the day’s festivities. Guests included Matt Hall, Executive Vice President of One[Read More…]
One of the most important management practices for production of blackberries and black raspberries is summer tipping of the primocanes. This practice removes the apical dominance of the shoot tip, resulting in several lateral branches below the tip, and a stronger primocane. Next year’s crop will primarily be produced from buds on the lateral branches,[Read More…]
Canopy management is a critical production practice for improved sunlight exposure. Pulling shoots off the top of the rows in high cordon-trained vines improves sunlight exposure to the leaves at the base of the shoots. Those basal nodes will be the ones saved as spurs next year during pruning, and sunlight improves bud fruitfulness and[Read More…]
We’ve had some weird weather this year. April was cool and crop growth was delayed. But once May arrived, warm conditions lead to rapid development of fruit crops. We are now about “normal” in development. That means that grapes in the southern half of the state are nearing the pre-bloom stage, which is a key[Read More…]
Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the most common disease of strawberries. Managing this disease can be challenging if rainfall occurs during flowering. This year has been relatively dry, so hopefully there will be less disease pressure. Nevertheless, growers should consider fungicide applications to prevent gray mold infections. Timing of applications is critical. Botrytis[Read More…]
What a difference a couple of weeks of warm weather makes. Crop development is progressing rapidly with warmer weather. Apples in the south are around 10 mm, and in full bloom here in Lafayette. Peaches in southern areas of the state are still in the shuck, but barely. Folks in southern areas are getting ready[Read More…]