Know Your Roots Consulting Grower Update - No 1
13 March 2020
Grower Update #1 March 13 2020
The growing season is off to a rapid start. Though there was snow on the ground just a few days ago - here in the Finger Lakes - stone fruit and apple fruit buds were swelling in the Hudson Valley. Some early apple varieties are already in greentip and apricots have petals poking through in the Hudson Valley. It won't be too long before we see the same around the state for all the fruit crops. I estimate we are about 3-4 weeks early in the Hudson Valley and 2-3 weeks early in the Finger Lakes and along Lake Ontario. The Catskills are still very dormant, but without any snow or frozen ground things could change rapidly there as well. I am encouraging everyone to get their sprayers up and ready IMMEDIATELY, and make sure you have materials on hand for early spray applications (maybe as early as next week for delayed dormant).
** I will be including other crops such as grapes, vegetables, berries, and other relevant crops as the season develops
Degree Days and Tree Phenology - You can see from the chart below that the majority of the state is at silvertip or beyond in apples. Some areas (Hudson Valley) are at greentip (verified via observation) and most will be there within then next 7-10 days. So by March 23 the state will be at greentip or beyond - almost 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Stone fruit are always ahead of apples and should be pushing pink or beyond in the Hudson Valley. Apricots have already taken a heavy hit form cold damage, Sweet Cherries less so, and peaches are still in good shape. Next week I should have better data on all crops. TAKEAWAY- the season is 2-4 weeks early depending on location and subject to potential cold damage in the coming weeks. Anything and everything you can do to slow the trees down is in your favor. DELAY pruning and DO NOT fertilize. Don't do anything that will invigorate the tree. Another tactic is to apply Surround at 50 lbs/acre to help reflect sunlight and reduce radiational heating. This can slow the physiological growth of the tree somewhat, but is certainly no silver bullet.
Biodynamic Sprays - The time is getting close for the application of the first 500 sprays. Those can be applied almost anytime as soon as the ground has warmed up and immediate threats of cold damage . However, delaying them until after the forecast cold weather (here in the northeast) may be a good idea as they can enliven the soil and awaken the sleepy trees. You definitely want to wait for a few more weeks before any 501 sprays are applied - any of the warming spray may potentially awaken the trees sooner than you want. FROST CONTROL - there are biodynamic approaches to reducing potential for and recovering from any frost damage. They need to be applied the night before and the morning after to work, and for every frost threat thereafter.
Disease - there are still no disease issues to worry about. That said, an early season spray of copper at delayed dormant to greentip can help with several disease including fireblight (apples and pears), bacterial canker (cherries and stone fruit), peach leaf curl (peaches), and black rot (plums). I am recommending a copper spray at delayed dormant->silvertip and again at budbreak (stone fruit only). There are no disease controls recommended at this time.
Insects - generally speaking insects are still pretty dormant. But, oriental fruit moth (OFM) and pear psylla (PP) can be active early in temperatures as cool/cold as 40sF. If you have had issues with PP in the past, or just grow a significant quantity of pears, then an oil spray is advised before bud break. Oil will kill/reduce viability eggs and reduce fecundity of adult females. Dormant or Stylet oil at 2% v/v (2 gal oil/100 gal water)
Know Your Roots -
Degree Day Data
2020
Degree Days (DD43BE) - as of Mar 13
Station
since Jan 1
Predicted
Ttl Pred
Accord
88.6
20.0
108.6
Denver
31.8
11.0
42.8
Germantown
92.8
17.0
109.8
Interlaken
71.0
15.0
86.0
Ithaca
74.3
14.0
88.3
Lodi
77.4
11.0
88.4
New Paltz
95.3
22.0
117.3
Red Hook
105.1
20.0
125.1
Average
79.5
16.3
95.8
Key Phenological Events
Apple - DD43BE
Stage
DD43
Std Dev
Date*
Silver Tip
97
ND
Greentip
121
+/- 26
6-Apr
1/4" Green
ND
ND
1/2" Green
167
ND
14-Apr
Tight Cluster
234
+/- 25
22-Apr
Pink
307
+/- 24
28-Apr
Bloom
427
+/- 35
3-May
Petal Fall
490
+/- 42
13-May
Fruit Set
558
CONGRATULATIONS! You made the cut. This is the first issue of the KYR-GROWER ONLY newsletter. Please do not share or forward as the info herein is intended solely for paid clients, colleagues, and kindred spirits. General information and typical rants and raves will still go out in the "Ecosystem Insights" newsletter. Input, suggestions, comments, and questions can be directed to me directly. Complaints should be directed here. Thanks and Happy Growing.
The growing season is off to a rapid start. Though there was snow on the ground just a few days ago - here in the Finger Lakes - stone fruit and apple fruit buds were swelling in the Hudson Valley. Some early apple varieties are already in greentip and apricots have petals poking through in the Hudson Valley. It won't be too long before we see the same around the state for all the fruit crops. I estimate we are about 3-4 weeks early in the Hudson Valley and 2-3 weeks early in the Finger Lakes and along Lake Ontario. The Catskills are still very dormant, but without any snow or frozen ground things could change rapidly there as well. I am encouraging everyone to get their sprayers up and ready IMMEDIATELY, and make sure you have materials on hand for early spray applications (maybe as early as next week for delayed dormant).
Degree Days and Tree Phenology - You can see from the chart below that the majority of the state is at silvertip or beyond in apples. Some areas (Hudson Valley) are at greentip (verified via observation) and most will be there within then next 7-10 days. So by March 23 the state will be at greentip or beyond - almost 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Stone fruit are always ahead of apples and should be pushing pink or beyond in the Hudson Valley. Apricots have already taken a heavy hit form cold damage, Sweet Cherries less so, and peaches are still in good shape. Next week I should have better data on all crops. TAKEAWAY - the season is 2-4 weeks early depending on location and subject to potential cold damage in the coming weeks. Anything and everything you can do to slow the trees down is in your favor. DELAY pruning and DO NOT fertilize. Don't do anything that will invigorate the tree. Another tactic is to apply Surround at 50 lbs/acre to help reflect sunlight and reduce radiational heating. This can slow the physiological growth of the tree somewhat, but is certainly no silver bullet.
