Fruit Tree Activity

March 14, 2009

Fruit trees from south to north or progressing along rapidly. Freezes recently have thinned blooms in some orchards but, crop potential remains good in most situations.

In central Alabama we are nearing full bloom. March 10 - 15 is "normal" and we are more normal this year than we have been in several years. Chill hours were sufficient for all but the highest chilling varieties and the warm days have pushed flower bud movement rather quickly

It has been a little windy but, some honey bees and numerous bumble bees have been working blooms. Conditions for pollination have been good the past week. We are entering into several days of cloudy and rainy weather but should clear back up by late Monday.

Some fertilization is still being carried out and some growers have considered making multiple applications perhaps 4-6 weeks apart for the spring due to the high cost of fertilizers. This will provide time to get through potential freeze events and drop back in depening on crop load.

On the insect front we are expecting plum curculio activity to really kick off early next week. This will likely mean that first egg lay in Central Alabama will begin in about 2 1/2 weeks here at my office facility. We will be monitoring the adults and egg laying activity closely. Our first targeted spray coincides with first PC peak. This year we will be using our targeted PC control measures on a 1 acre orchard of 'Flameprince' to evaluate more commercial scale of the IPM program. I'll keep you updated as to the progress.