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Stone fruit HORTICULTURE 2009 MASS Aggie Seminar

Stone fruit HORTICULTURE 2009 MASS Aggie Seminar. Jon Clements. Extension Educator UMass Cold Spring Orchard Peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, apricots. Massachusetts peach production. Peaches 380 acres 2.0 million lbs ($0.75) $1.5 million Apples 4,100 acres

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Stone fruit HORTICULTURE 2009 MASS Aggie Seminar

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  1. Stone fruit HORTICULTURE 2009 MASS Aggie Seminar

  2. Jon Clements • Extension Educator • UMass Cold Spring Orchard • Peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, apricots

  3. Massachusetts peach production Peaches • 380 acres • 2.0 million lbs ($0.75) • $1.5 million Apples • 4,100 acres • 28.5 million lbs ($0.38) • $10 million

  4. 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

  5. Back to Basics Location-only best orchard sites • Frost free site-know past weather history • North facing - delay bloom • Well drained fertile soils

  6. N

  7. More Basics Plan two years ahead • Soil tests • Adjust pH and nutrients • Nematode assays? • Add soil organic matter • Control perennial weeds • Order trees

  8. Type of Tree To Order • Smaller caliper • Weak tree • Low buds

  9. Pay Attention to Proper Establishment • Correct pH and Nutrients • Establish Raised beds • Establish sod middles and herbicide strips the fall before

  10. Root Distribution Weed Free Herbicide Strip Root Distribution Stops at Turf

  11. Soil Preparation • Subsoil Prior to planting • Clay Pot Effect From Auger - (fall) • Break sides before planting

  12. Planting Depth& Lime • Correct planting depth • Leave graft union 2” above • Two or more pounds of calcium lime in backfill

  13. 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

  14. Avoid Winter Injury • Southwest injury • Peach borers • Cytostopora canker • Paint trunks white Exterior White Latex Paint 2 to 1 water Low acrylic content

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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!

  18. Sweet Cherry •Dwarfing Rootstocks-Gisela Concerns- Cracking-rain-covers Birds-netting Bacterial Canker

  19. Sweet CherryGisela Rootstocks Hartland/G6 Heidlefingen/G5

  20. Bacterial Canker • Bordeaux sprays • Summer prune only • Stub prune • Resistant cultivars

  21. More information? Web sites… www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/ http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/

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