Summer disease update

Last week we accumlated 34 hours of wetting from rain and dew. This brings us to a total of 262 hours, surpassing the 250-hour action threshold for development of sooty blotch and flyspeck on unprotected fruit. This is about the same time we reached the threshold last year.

Summer disease update

Over the weekend we got some much needed rain, totaling 1.8 inches for June 18-20. We had two extended wetting periods: 17 hr at 72 F June 18-19 and 12 hr at 70 F June 19-20. Last week we accumlated 40 hours of wetting, mostly from rain. This brings us to a total of 228 hours toward the 250-hour action threshold for sooty blotch and flyspeck.

Accumulated wetting hours

Last week we had 34 hours wet, mostly from dew. This gives us a total of 188 hours toward the 250-hour threshold.

Rappahannock County (Washington, VA) had 209 wetting hours as of June 8, and probably will reach the 250-hr threshold for development of sooty blotch and flyspeck on unprotected fruit this week.

Accumulated wetting hours

Last week we had 11 hours of wetting, bringing us to a total of 154 accumulated hours at our AREC.

This year we had 28 dry weather "mildew infection days" in April-May compared to 45 last year, but secondary mildew symptoms are common where control was not adequate. Control is still advised where shoot growth is continuing. Over the 18-year period that we have recorded this, the number of "mildew days in April-May has ranged from 24 to 49.