Caution: The observations, conditions, and recommendations reported on this page are applicable only to the eastern counties of West Virginia. Use of the information reported here for making orchard management decisions outside of the immediate proximity of Kearneysville, West Virginia, is not our intent. Fruit producers outside the eastern West Virginia area are encouraged to consult their state extension specialists for information similar to that provided here.
- May 8 - 9, 2012
- Rain beginning at 11 AM on 5/8 started leaf wetting that continued into 5/9 with 19 hours of wetting at 65 F with 0.20 inches of rain. This is infection period #5 for the 2012 season and was favorable for infection by the fungal pathogens that cause apple scab, rust diseases, black rot, and Brooks spot. (Updated 5/9/12)
- Any remaining blossoms on apple cultivars with late bloom or secondary bloom experienced a fire blight infection during this time, as well.
- Morning meeting tomorrow: Just a quick reminder that there is a Commercial Fruit Meeting scheduled for this Thursday, May 10th at 7:00am. The meeting will be held at the Alson H. Smith AREC at 595 Laurel Grove Road, Winchester, VA. There will be pathology, horticulture, and entomology updates along with time for questions and discussion.
- May 7, 2012
- Begin accumulating wetting hours for SB&FS forecast on May 7, 2012.
- April 30, 2012
- April 28 - 29, 2012
- Wet for approximately 15 hours at an average temperature of 40 F with 0.07 inches of rain. These conditions do not meet the criteria needed for an apple scab infection period.
- April 23, 2012
- Nor'easter conditions: extended cold wetting period includes rain, wet snow, and freezing temperatures in some areas.
- Rain on Saturday 4/21 provided leaf wetting from 4 PM to 9 PM (6 hours) at 59 F with 0.73 inches of rain. This is not an apple scab infection period according to the revised Mills table.
- Rain beginning at 10AM on 4/22 started leaf wetting that continued into 4/23 with 30 hours of wetting at 43 F with 1.23 inches of rain. This is apple scab infection period #4. (Updated 4/24/12).
- Cedar apple rust galls are well developed and easily visible. Infection can occur at the temperatures reported above, although an extended wet period is necessary. Rust infections are reliably predicted when temperatures are 58 F and above; colder wet periods are more difficult to predict.
- April 18 - 19, 2012
- Apple scab infection period #3 beginning at 7:00 AM 4/18 and continuing wet for 27 hours at an average temperature of 50.4 F with 0.54 inches of rain. If you have scab lesions showing from the March 24-25 infection period (#2), then expect considerable secondary infection and potential problems that will be visible in mid-May on fruit and leaves.
- April 16, 2012
- Apple scab lesions were observed this afternoon on non-protected Golden Delicious buffer row trees in our fungicide trial block at KTFREC. Trees with visible scab lesions will be an inoculum source for potential secondary scab infections during the next wetting period.
- April 4, 2012
- It did not rain at KTFREC last night, although there were showers in many surrounding locations.
- April 3, 2012
- It is time to start considering control of 1st brood OFM larvae. As a reminder, recommended trap thresholds for the first flight of oriental fruit moth are different for apple and peach. In peach, control of first brood is recommended if trap capture exceeds 15 moths/trap/week. In apple, control is recommended if trap capture exceeds 30 moths/trap/week. After the first flight, thresholds for apple and peach are the same, at greater than 10 moths/trap/week.
- Optimal spray timings for OFM control in apple and peach differ through the season and are based on accumulated DD. Timing of products is listed in the 2012 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers (http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/ANR/ANR-4/ANR-4_pdf.pdf), which are based on recommendations from The Penn State University, Fruit Research and Extension Center, Biglerville, PA. Timings for 1st brood are reproduced below.
- Peach – First brood: Intrepid or Assail at 70-100 DD, then at 250-275 DD, if needed. Organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, Altacor, Belt, Voliam Flexi, Voliam Xpress, or Delegate at 170-195 DD, then at 350-375 DD, if needed.
- Apple – First brood: Rimon at 200-250 DD. Assail, Belay, Calypso, or Intrepid at 250-275 DD. Organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, Delegate, Altacor, Avaunt, Belt, or Voliam Flexi at 350-375 DD.
- * Pyrethroid recommendations in-season are based on the threat from brown marmorated stink bug. However, their use may flare secondary pests.
- Update provided by Dr. Daniel Frank, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, WVU
- April 1 - 2, 2012
- Light rain beginning about 7:00 PM April 1 provided 0.17 inches of rain and leaf wetting for 9 hours at 55 degrees F. This is not an apple scab infection period according to the Mills chart, but some areas with just slightly longer wetting, or slightly warmer temperatures, could have experienced an infection period.
- With the seasonable weather pattern that we're in right now, powdery mildew is the main disease that needs to be managed on mildew-susceptible apple cultivars.
- Here is an updated fire blight forecast that assesses the current situation and looks ahead for the next 7 days. See the note on March 27 about secondary bloom and fire blight management.
- March 30, 2012
- Here is an updated fire blight forecast that assesses the current situation and looks ahead for the next 7 days. See the note on March 27 about secondary bloom and fire blight management.
- March 27, 2012
- Colder conditions than those forecast occurred at KTFREC early this morning, with our coldest location at 24 F for about 90 min. It will take 48 to 72 hours to get a preliminary assessment of the damage. We had a lot of brown blossom petals by the end of the day.
- One thing to watch out for with a freeze at the tight cluster to pink stage of bud development on apples is an extended secondary bloom period. Extended secondary bloom lengthens the fire blight season into very warm and favorable weather for the pathogen, thus making fire blight management exceedingly difficult.
- March 26, 2012
- March 24 - 25, 2012
- Apple scab infection #2 occurred with rain beginning at about 10:00 AM on 3/24 and continuing on and off through 8:00 PM on 3/25, resulting in 0.31 inches of rain and leaf wetting for 23 hours at an average temperature of 55.2 degrees F. This would qualify as "heavy" on the old Mills chart.
- March 23, 2012
- OFM Biofix set at KTFREC.
- March 21, 2012
- Would anybody here follow a twitter feed on disease and insect status? Let us know.
- March 19 - 20, 2012
- Weather conditions on March 19-20 brought about the first apple scab infection period of the 2012 growing season. With rain beginning at about 7 PM and temperatures averaging 60 F for 12 hours, we would describe this infection as "light" but that judgement really depends on your amount of overwintering inoculum.
- Apple powdery mildew inoculum is present now, so mildew-susceptible cultivars will need to be protected.
- Full bloom on many of our peach cultivars right now. Beautiful!
- March 16, 2012
- First apple scab infection period? Not yet.... With some scattered showers around in the evening of 3/15 and the morning of 3/16, I fielded a few questions about whether or not we had enough leaf wetting for our first scab infection period. At KTFREC, we recorded one hour of wetting Thursday evening and, on Friday morning, four hours of wetting from 6 to 9 AM at an average temperature of 50 degrees F. These conditions do not qualify as an infection period.
- January 30, 2012
- This web page has been moved to a Google Blog, although I may do both at the same time for awhile. The Blog format has several useful features that will make it easier for me to post observations and will provide users the opportunity to give feedback and make comments. The new page is here: http://wvu-ktfrec.blogspot.com
- I wrote this is Jan. 2011: "Let's hope for a little less snow than last winter." I didn't mean no snow at all...
- Average daily temperatures and records
- Average last freeze date map
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Web Site Author: Alan
R. Biggs
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