Continued summer disease pressure

We are seeing continued summer disease pressure with extended wetting periods last week occurring Aug 5-6 (11 hr with 0.3 in. of rain at 63°), Aug 7-8 (18 hr with 0.34 in. of rain at 74°) and Aug 8-9 (16 hr with 0.12 in. of rain at 73°). Also, the 78 wetting hours last week brings our accumulated wetting hours since May 13 to 549.

So in the first two weeks of August we have had five extended wetting periods, with three of these at relatively warm temperatures (more than 73°), which has given significant pressures for apple rots, and sooty blotch and flyspeck, and possible leaf spot diseases, and certainly for brown rot on ripening peaches. 

Disease management and pre-harvest sprays in the orchard directly affect postharvest quality and storage rot problems. Maintain intervals of pre-harvest fungicides appropriate to disease pressures, the prevailing weather conditions, and the intended fruit market.

 

Our congratulations to Frederick County Virginia grower Cordell Watt, Timber Ridge Fruit Farm, on his selection by American Fruit Grower as 2013 Apple Grower of the Year!