Category: Apple IPM
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2025 UVM Extension Spring Orchard Twilight Meetings May 8 and 9
Join the University of Vermont Extension and Vermont Tree Fruit Grower’s Association at these hands-on field meetings at Yates Family Orchard in Monkton on May 8th and Wellwood Orchard in Springfield on May 9th from 4:30-6 p.m. We will discuss commercial tree fruit management practices, value added products, marketing, pest and disease updates, pollinators, and…
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VT Apple IPM- Starting the 2025 season
I am trying out some 21st-century technology this week. First, I dictated my message while on my commute (with light editing), so the ‘writing’ style and length may be a bit different than folks are used to. Second, I recorded an update from the UVM orchard and placed on our YouTube channel. I intend to…
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Starting the 2025 growing season
My longtime colleague and predecessor in this Extension role, Lorraine Berkett, always used to stress that “the growing season starts April 1”. By that she didn’t mean that we should be firing up sprayers by April Fools’ Day— although in one year I did make my first copper application to the orchard on March 30—…
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February 21: 129th VTFGA / UVM Fruit Program Annual Meeting and Winter Webinar series
Happy New Year: I have news of two exciting educational opportunities coming up in the next few months. First, the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association will hold their 129th (!) annual meeting in conjunction with the UVM Fruit Program on Friday, February 21 at the American Legion Hall, 49 Wilson Rd., Middlebury, VT. The agenda…
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Vermont Apple IPM: Midsummer management
This has really been a bit of a goldilocks season, with relatively mild, or dare I say ‘normal’ temperatures, few significant weather calamities, and just enough rain to keep us from complaining too much. That generally means low tree stress, and with the reports I’m hearing from growers and the observations I’ve made around the…
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VT Apple IPM- Apple maggot fly traps should be prepared and hung
Assuming that you have dealt with codling moth, we’re in a calm spot between insects but it is time to hang your apple maggot fly (AMF) traps. These are some of the easiest pests to manage using an IPM strategy, so there’s really no excuse. The idea is to assess the population in the orchard…
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Vermont Apple IPM
Orchards in the highest elevation and coolest areas are at or just past petal fall, so all the advice I’ve had for other growers applies there as well now. All orchards should have started or completed chemical thinning by now. Fabulous thinning weather occurred last week and those who applied the usual materials should see…
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And we’re off….early season orchard management in Vermont
NEW this year. Please report local apple bud stages here to make our reports more accurate: https://go.uvm.edu/22applebudstage Upcoming weather this coming week looks warm, above freezing, anyway, for the Champlain and Connecticut Valleys. Orchards at UVM Hort Farm are at not quite at silver tip, but warm weather this weekend and early next week should…
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VT Apple IPM: Thinning, fire blight, scab
May 20, 2021 It’s looking pretty hot out there in more ways than one. Many orchards are at or near petal fall, but those with bloom should be keeping the streptomycin sprays on, with all this heat we’re having. Fire blight remains a concern statewide, and I would expect some infection in any orchard that…
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Fire Blight symptoms now appearing
June 9, 2014- Fire blight infections caused during bloom should be appearing in infected orchards any time now. If you have susceptible cultivars (Mutsu, Gala, Cortland, Paulared, Ginger Gold, and many others found here), then get out and scout your orchards ASAP. Blossom infections should be removed at least six inches below any signs of…