Category: Apples
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Industry-Supported Cider Apple Research commences at UVM
August 4, 2014 Since 2008, the hard cider industry nationwide has seen annual growth of over 50%, which presents a significant opportunity for apple growers to increase sales of fruit to that market. Vermont is a leader in the production of hard cider, as it is home to Vermont Hard Cider Company (makers of Woodchuck…
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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…
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Thinning and codling moth management in Vermont orchards
June 4, 2014 By now apple fruitlets in the Champlain and Connecticut Valleys should be approaching 10-12 mm size which is the most receptive time for thinner application. Bloom and fruit set have been spotty this season, with large variations across cultivars and even within cultivars on adjacent trees in a row. Still, don’t plan…
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Introduction to (Commercial) Hard Cider
June 3, 2014 I just wanted to drop a quick note to announce that an article I co-authored with other cider-oriented researchers has been posted to eXtension: http://www.extension.org/pages/70601/an-introduction-to-hard-cider-in-the-us#.U4fbrBbp-DQ This should be just the beginning of things to come. Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist Where trade names or commercial products are used for…
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Petal Fall and Hail Damage Management
May 27, 2014 I’ve heard reports of possible hail damage from today’s storms, particularly in Addison County (although I would appreciate word from any other affected areas). Mary Conklin from UConn Extension just offered this advice to growers similarly hit recently in Connecticut: 1. Fireblight susceptible pears and apples should receive a strep spray within…
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Tree Fruit Meeting tomorrow May 21, Walpole, NH
May 20, 2014 Sorry for the late announcement- tomorrow evening George Hamilton from UNH Cooperative Extension will host a joint twilight meeting with UMASS fruit team members at Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, NH: Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting (Wednesday 05/21/2014 – 05:00 PM – 08:00 PM) Topics to be Covered: Overview of the Farm and Walking…
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Green tip apple scab management
April 24, 2014 Orchards in most areas of the state should be showing green tip now, and that means that protection is required to manage apple scab. Many orchards are going into this season with high overwintering inoculum as a result of the wet 2013 growing season, and growers need to be vigilant to manage…
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Silver tip, copper, oil, and cold temperatures
April 19, 2014 Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist By the time I check the UVM orchards on Monday, I expect we’ll be seeing silver tip on many cultivars. By Friday 4/18, I called Empire and Macoun at silver tip, but most others were still looking tight, although buds were swelling on everything.…
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Early season apple disease management
April 9, 2014 Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist Spring looks to be here, as temperatures are gradually warming up, or at least staying out of the frigid zone. At the UVM Hort Farm, trees are still dormant, although I’ve seen a little swelling on Empire and Macoun. Still, green tip looks to…
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2014 Growing Season Welcome
April 1, 2014 Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist As I write this at the beginning of the first week of April, it looks like Spring will finally be arriving, but in a form I remember as a kid- a long month of fluctuating temperatures, plenty of ice and slush, and trees showing…