Fruit Orchard Update

February 11, 2009

Here we are almost mid February with mostly warm temperatures over the past 4 days. Looks like we will stay warm for the next 7 days or so here in central Alabama.
Blooming is occuring in south Alabama on Peaches and I would expect blooms are showing up on blueberries as well. Here around me in central Alabama we are seeing blooms on peaches under 500 chill hours but, we don't have many of these thank goodness. Most peaches and blueberries are in early to mid bud swell with 650's approaching calyx green/red. In north Alabama buds are moving some but are still fairly tight on must peaches and other fruit crops.

I mention all this to illustrate that we are back about to normal and 7-10 days ahead in bud development for mid portion of the state and perhaps 5-7 days ahead in north Alabama compared to 2008.

Chores:
Peaches -
-Still time in many areas for delayed dormant oil application for scale insects. Delayed dormant is considered early to mid bud swell.
-Copper appication for bacterial spot control program. (REMEMBER, rates of copper are reduced as the bud stages advance.
-Herbicide applications (burn down and preemergence)
-Fertilization (split, 2/3 now and 1/3 early mid August - early September or 1/3 now, 1/3 early to mid-June, 1/3 mid August - early September)
-Set black pyramid traps for plum curculio monitoring (location within orchard row next to fence row, wooded areas, brush piles) Contact me if you need specific information at boozert@auburn.edu

Blueberries -
-Herbicide application. Be sure to use shielded sprayers when label recommends, to avoid plant injury.
-Blueberry gall midge scouting

Strawberries -
-Clean out winter or diseased leaf debris
-Disease control program
-Weekly fertilization (already started in S AL and beginning in C AL)
-Herbicide middles