By Terence Bradshaw May 21, 2017 Most Champlain, Connecticut, and Taconic valley orchards are at petal fall or quickly approaching it, which means the management needs will ramp up quickly- insect and disease management; nutrient application, mowing/herbicide/cultivation; and, of course, … Continue reading →

By Terence Bradshaw May 19, 2017 An short, extremely intense line of thunderstorms passed through the state last night, accompanied with damaging high winds and, in some cases, hail. I was cutting trees out of our road soon after to … Continue reading →

By Terence Bradshaw It’s hot today, it doesn’t take an expert to tell you that. Bees should be moving; orchards all over the state including in the inland, cooler regions are at least in king bloom. Hopefully you got a … Continue reading →

By Terence Bradshaw May 16, 2017 Okay, we’ve been hinting around about it for weeks, and the risk for fire blight will be upon us later this week. Warm weather today, and hot weather Wednesday and Thursday will allow for … Continue reading →

By Terence Bradshaw May 14, 2017 Orchards in the Champlain and Connecticut valleys are in full bloom now, and it looks like a good one. After my worrying comments last week about poor weather for bee flight, one grower last … Continue reading →

By Terence Bradshaw May 5, 2017 Ugh. Vermont orchards are largely at tight cluster (inland, cooler sites and cider cultivars) to pink (most of the Champlain Valley, Honeycrisp of course is lagging) to early king bloom in a few spots … Continue reading →

By Terence Bradshaw As many growers know, we are rolling out an expanding orchard scouting program at select sites this year in cooperation with Eric Boire from CPS. This week I got to my sites, both ‘inland’ in Washington and … Continue reading →