Month: May 2026
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VT Apple IPM: Bloom-late bloom – petal fall considerations
Given the long stretches of cool-to-cold weather, bloom has been stretched out all over the place in Vermont orchards. In warmer sites, apples are at petal fall, yet many trees in most sites are holding on to significant blossoms. Don’t jump the gun on applying insecticides to your orchards, wait until petals are gone and…
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Early season disease management in Vermont vineyards
With the heat this week things moved fast, vines at the UVM vineyard hover around 1-2 inches of growth and those at my house at 1440 feet in elevation are at bud burst. It’s time to really be thinking about protecting vines from early season disease infections. Most cold-climate cultivars will not need disease protection…
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Vermont Apple IPM, approaching Bloom: Apple scab, fire blight, pollinationn and thinning
Apple scab: With the rain that has started today and is expected to continue through Friday, I don’t need to tell this audience that we are starting a significant apple scab infection period for orchards across the state. Please keep covered before and, if coverage was questionable, after extended wetting events. In addition to mancozeb…
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VT Apple IPM- Bloom week for many orchards, apple scab ahead
This cool weather is certainly holding bud stages back from substantial development in Vermont. At the UVM horticulture research and Education Center, our zest stars are in full bloom, yet most all other varieties are at lake pink with only a few king blossoms showing. This bud stage has held for about 5 days with…
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VT Apple IPM- Thoughts headed into bloom
Don’t forget we are hosting two twilight meetings this week, please register here: Registration Link Star Grazer Farm (Liberty Orchard) 2481 West St, Brookfield, VT 05036 Thursday May 7, 4:00 -6:30 and Mad Tom Orchard 2615 Mad Tom Road, East Dorset VT 05253 Friday May 8, 4:00-6:30 The weather heading into bloom sure looks less-than…