Current degree day accumulations
Guest article: TAKING CARE OF APPLE TREES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER PLANTING
Location: UMass Cold Spring Orchard, Belchertown, MA
29-April, 2013 |
|
| Base 43 | 204 |
| Base 50 | 102 |
Location: UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 29-April, 2013
| Honeycrisp apple | tight cluster |
| McIntosh apple | tight cluster + |
| Rainier cherry | white bud |
| PF-14 Jersey peach | pink-bloom |
| Gold Bosc pear | green cluster |
See pictures of current bud stages here: http://extension.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/apr-29-2013-bud-stages
| Coming events | Degree days (Base 43) |
| Green fruitworm flight peak | 102-216 |
| Redbanded leafroller 1st catch | 234-368 |
| Spotted tentiform leafminer 1st oviposition | 143-273 |
| Green apple aphid present | 111-265 |
| Rosy apple aphid nymphs present | 134-244 |
| Obliquebanded leafroller larvae active | 158-314 |
| European red mite egg hatch | 231-337 |
| Oriental fruit moth 1st catch | 225-329 |
| Pear psylla 1st egg hatch | 174-328 |
| McIntosh pink | 275-319 |
May 8 (Wednesday): University of New Hampshire/UMass Tree Fruit Growers' Meeting, Brookdale Fruit Farms,41 broad Street, Hollis, NH. 5:15-7:30 PM. 2 pesticide recertification credits available. See meeting flyer here.
May 14 (Tuesday): UMass Fruit Team Twilight Meeting, UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 391 Sabin St., Belchertown, MA. 5:30 PM. 1 pesticide re-certification credit will be available. $20/25 meeting charge.
May 16 (Thursday): University of Rhode Island/UMass Fruit Twilight Meeting,Old Stone Orchard, 33 Cold Brook Rd., Little Compton, RI. 5:30 PM. 1 pesticide re-certification credit will be available. $20/25 meeting charge.
Now it is getting a bit dry. We may be in uncharted territory, but if I was able to begin irrigating my trees -- particularly dwarf and young plantings -- I would. Newly planted trees should definitely be getting water. Take a look at the NEW NEWA Apple Irrigation/EvapoTranspiration Model. If anyone out there is listening, I/we coud use a better explanation of the model results.
We still have not had a significant scab infection period in Belchertown, nor is any forecasted. Spore maturity is at about 25% according to most models. Don't foget, however, that pink is the time fungicides must start to be applied for mildew, so make sure to use a mildew-effective fungicide -- see this table Effectiveness of Fungicides for Management of Apple Diseases. (Print it out and hang it on your wall as I have done for season-long reference!)
I have caught tarnished plant bug (one) and Oriental fruit moth (many) in traps at the UMass Orchard so it has finally warmed up enough for insect activity to be on your radar screen.
Make note of the fact that our first May twilight meeting is next week on May 8 (Wednesday) at Brookdale Fruit Farm in New Hampshire. On May 14 we will meet at the UMass Orchard in Belchertown and on May 16 we are headed to the Rhode Island shore (Little Compton). So mark your calendar!
JC
Guest article: TAKING CARE OF APPLE TREES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER PLANTING
Mario Miranda Sazo, LOFT, mrm67@cornell.edu; Terence Robinson, Horticulture, tlr1@cornell.edu; Steve Hoying, Horticulture, sah19@cornell.edu; and Mike Fargione, ENY Hort Team, mjf22@cornell.edu
Reprinted from Scaffolds Fruit Journal, April 29, 2013, Volume 22, No. 6.
Only a relatively small proportion of Western NY fruit growers had optimal soil moisture conditions for early tree planting. A few of them also successfully incorporated the use of GPS-guided apple planting for precisely straight rows. We congratulate those growers who were able to plant trees early and those who are adopting more precise orchard management practices.
The majority of trees in WNY are still waiting to be planted. It is now extremely important to keep your trees in good condition while waiting to plant. We recommend the following: (1) when you receive trees, open the boxes and the plastic box liner to prevent fungal development on the trees and to allow trees to breathe, (2) inspect trees for quality and condition, contact the nursery immediately if anything is wrong, (3) check to see that roots are moist and covered; if not, water well, (4) store in a cooler or cold room at 34°F. The room should have been well aired to remove any ethylene remaining from stored apples, (5) if a cold room is not available, find a root cellar or common storage that stays as cold as possible. Do everything you can to prevent nursery trees breaking dormancy before planting; trees already growing in the box will use limited reserves to re-grow those shoots in the field, (6) never store nursery stock with apples. The ethylene gas will severely damage trees, (7) plant as soon as soil conditions warrant, and (8) do not plant if the soil is still too wet.
There are different ways to plan, prepare, and establish a successful high-density apple orchard. However, the decisions made now and methods used this year for establishing that orchard will have consequences for the next 20 years. We stress the importance of (1) advance planning for a minimum of two years to get the proper tree with the right rootstock and to prepare the soil well the year before, (2) the use of nursery trees of excellent quality, whether they are bought or produced on the farm, (3) early spring or fall planting to allow early root establishment and maximum tree growth in the first year, (4) quick installation of trellis support and irrigation lines soon after planting, and (5) optimal leader growth of 18–24" for each of the first 2–3 years as a result of a balanced nutritional program, irrigation, excellent weed control and overall good orchard management.
Today a modern high-density planting must be supported with 12-foot posts so trees are properly supported to quickly reach the top trellis wire (10 feet) by the end of the second or third year. A good, strong, and tall support system for a high-density orchard must be viewed as an investment (rather than just an orchard establishment cost!) that allows fruit production in the early years while preserving the vertical tree structure (without ever allowing the top to bend if unsupported!) and developing a full canopy for future large, mature yields from the bottom to the top of the tree.
Planting the Young Apple Tree Carefully
The roots of a young Tall Spindle apple tree contain much stored nitrogen, hormones, and other elements, which are used in forming both new root growth and new top growth. Any broken or injured roots should be trimmed off, but the root system should not be reduced more than necessary prior to planting. Once your soil has dried out sufficiently and you are able to plant, keep your trees out of the sun and protected from drying winds (never allow the roots of the tree to dry out). If possible, soak pond, tub or barrel. Growers should plant trees with at least 4–6 inches of rootstock out the ground. The soil should be packed firmly around the roots in order to establish good contact. At about two weeks after planting, the trees should receive a small dose of nitrogen (1/4 lb of calcium nitrate) carefully applied in a doughnut shaped band around each tree.
Pruning and Managing the Tall Spindle Apple Tree after Planting
If you plant a Tall Spindle apple block, you should not head the leader. Heading of the leader of a young apple tree after planting is undesirable, as it removes a significant portion of the tree structure already produced in the nursery. Even if a whip is planted, the leader is not pruned or headed at planting for the Tall Spindle system. Heading the leader disrupts and changes forever the natural growth and branching patterns of a young apple tree on a dwarfing rootstock intended to be grown as a Tall Spindle tree. Instead of heading a whip, we recommend applying Maxcel (500 ppm) to stimulate branching of an "unheaded" whip to obtain a more "calm tree" without much new upright growth as a result of the heading cut. The Maxcel should be applied at a rate of 6.4 ounces/gallon with a backpack sprayer using a single nozzle to the leader from the tip down to 24 inches above the soil at 10–15 days after bud break. To improve branching even more, you may combine the Maxcel treatment at 10–15 days after bud break with scoring (at bud swell) above every other bud along the leader from 24 to 45 inches high.
If you plant a Tall Spindle apple block with feathered trees, you should remove any feathers larger than 2/3 the diameter of the leader with a bevel cut; if there are less than three feathers, remove them with a bevel cut and treat the tree as a whip as described above.
Branch Management of Moderate and Highly Vigorous Apple Trees
It is essential with Tall Spindle orchards planted below horizontal soon after planting (before mid-June). Growers should invest the necessary time and effort to manage feathers of a young Tall Spindle orchard if the trees are growing vigorously. For example, all feathers on Fuji or Macoun (two vigorous apple cultivars) should be tied or weighted down below the horizontal at planting or before mid-July to induce cropping and to prevent them from developing into large lower scaffolds. Tying is best done within one month of planting, but can also be done in June, July, and even until August. The following materials are particularly suitable for tying down feathers below horizontal for the Tall Spindle system: (1) a strip of 5/8"-wide Avis-strap nailed or tied from the base of the trunk, then split into strands and tied to each of the lower feathers, (2) a pre-cut 20-inch black annealed wire (sold in 1000 pieces/bundle), each hooked around the feather directly down to the trellis wires, the conduit pipe or bamboo supporting pole, or the main trunk, and (3) a 4-inch long ghent rubber band (six-month-life with 880 rubber bands per bag) where the rubber band is tied on the trunk and the feather is placed through the band when it is stretched out. After about 4–6 months, the rubber band stretches and is less effective for strong feathers, while Avis-strap strings and the pre-cut black annealed wire are suitable for bending both weak and vigorous feathers.
Ensuring Great Tree Growth the First Year
After the trees are planted, the graft union height is adjusted, the trees are pruned and feathers are tied down, growers should focus on the basics of good tree management the first year: 1) Excellent weed control through the end of August, (2) regular small doses of nitrogen (1/4 lb of CaNO3 every month for the first 4 months), and (3) good water supply to minimize water stress of the young tree. Using trickle irrigation, apply small amounts of irrigation water (3–5 gallons per week) each week of the growing season unless sufficient rain falls that week. Growers can now precisely determine how much water to apply to newly planted apple orchards using the Cornell apple irrigation website on the NEWA webpage at: http://newa.cornell.edu/index.php?page=apple-irrigation
UMass Fruit Advisor: http://umassfruit.com
Scaffolds Fruit Journal: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/scafolds/
Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA): http://newa.cornell.edu
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The next Healthy Fruit will be published on Tuesday, May 7 or thereabouts, 2013. As always feel free to get in touch with any member of the UMass Fruit Team (http://extension.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/team-members) if you have questions or comments.