HORTICULTURE 2007 MASS Aggie Seminar Win Cowgill, Rutgers Coop. Extension.
-
Upload
audra-quinn -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
Transcript of HORTICULTURE 2007 MASS Aggie Seminar Win Cowgill, Rutgers Coop. Extension.
HORTICULTURE
2007 MASS Aggie Seminar
Win Cowgill, Rutgers Coop. Extension
Massachusetts peach production
Peaches• 380 acres• 2.0 million lbs ($0.75)• $1.5 millionApples• 4,100 acres• 28.5 million lbs ($0.38)• $10 million
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
MA is on the very northern edge of peach growing country
Most Important Issues
• Flower Bud Hardiness
• Tree Hardiness
• Bacterial and fungal cankers
• Peach tree borers
Back to Basics
Location-only best orchard sites• Frost free site-know past weather
history• North facing - delay bloom• Well drained fertile soils
N
More Basics
Plan two years ahead• Soil tests• Adjust pH and nutrients• Nematode assays? • Add soil organic matter• Control perennial weeds• Order trees
Type of Tree To Order
•Smaller caliper•Weak tree•Low buds
Pay Attention to Proper Establishment
• Correct pH and Correct pH and NutrientsNutrients
• Establish Raised Establish Raised bedsbeds
• Establish sod middles Establish sod middles and herbicide strips and herbicide strips the fall beforethe fall before
Root Distribution
Root DistributionStops at Turf
Weed FreeHerbicide Strip
Soil Preparation
• Subsoil Prior to planting
• Clay Pot Effect From Auger - (fall)
• Break sides before planting
Planting Depth& Lime
• Correct planting depth• Leave graft union 2”
above• Two or more pounds of
calcium lime in backfill
Cultivar Selection
• Select only bud hardy cultivars-most California cultivars are not hardy enough
• Bud vs. wood hardiness
• Unique Cultivars white flesh-non melting flesh
Donut Peaches
Avoid Winter Injury
• Southwest injury
• Peach borers
• Cytostopora canker
• Paint trunks whiteExterior White Latex Paint2 to 1 waterLow acrylic content
Cytospora Canker
•Most Serious Problem in the North East•Prune at bud-break in April if possible•Paint Pruning cuts on scaffolds•Use tree paint with benomyl
Peach Fertility
• Soil and tissue tests• Split applications of nitrogen• 1st app. in a complete fertilizer 3-4 weeks
prior to bud break to supply 1/2 total seasonal N requirement
• 2nd app. at shuck split• If frozen out eliminate 2nd app.• Do not over-apply nitrogen• Do not apply N After June 15
Peach Thinning
• Large Size is Essential• Thin Early-consider bloom thinning• Wiffle bat, toilet brush, fan belt on
broom handle• At least 6-8” between peaches -- at
least!
Sweet Cherry
•Dwarfing Rootstocks-Gisela
Concerns-
1. Cracking-rain-covers
2. Birds-netting
3. Bacterial Canker
Sweet CherryGisela Rootstocks
Hartland/G6Heidlefingen/G5
Bacterial Canker
• Bordeaux sprays
• Summer prune only
• Stub prune
• Resistant cultivars
More information?
Web sites…
www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/
http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/