Tree Fruit Newsletter — April 2, 2026
In this newsletter:
- Bud Stage Development and Bud Survival
- Spring Herbicide Reminders, Guest Article
- Announcements
Bud Stage Development and Bud Survival
Some flower buds have just started to reach silver tip, while most are not yet there. Honeycrisp buds are swelling, but development has been slow thanks to the cold weather. Return bloom looks good despite last year’s drought.
Pear flower buds show no sign of winter injury and are swelling, but with no sign of green.
Sweet cherry buds have greater than 90% survival, and a few buds have some sign of green tissue between bud scales.
Peaches are in the early stages of bud-swell. Flower bud survival at Highmoor Farm ranges from 24% to 100% depending on variety and elevation of the orchard. I am finding greater survival, 94%, in the trees at 450 feet above sea level than at 350 feet, 77%. In the variety trial, survival is lowest in Autumnstar, 44%, and greatest in Glowingstar, 94%. Overall, our bud survival is greater than average. Anticipate a greater need for hand thinning if conditions continue to be favorable.
Some of our peach trees are showing signs of stress from last year’s drought. Shoot growth appears stunted and with poor flower bud development, but this is not widespread through the orchard. In addition, trees appear to have enough buds for a full crop if all goes well this spring.
Spring Herbicide Reminders, Guest Article
2026 Spring Orchard Pre-Emergent Herbicides was posted on March 23, 2026. The link to the complete article is intended for New York growers so keep in mind that pesticide regulations may differ from Maine. For more info on herbicides for New England, visit the website: Herbicide active ingredients : New England Tree Fruit Management Guide : UMass Amherst
Guest article, Mike Basedow and Janet van Zoeren, Cornell Cooperative Extension
If you weren’t able to get pre-emergent herbicide on in the fall, spring still presents a good time to get something out before many annuals start to germinate. Below are some pre-emergent product recommendations to consider this spring.
For many products, at least ½” rainfall or irrigation is needed within 7 days after application to move (“activate”) the herbicide into the soil solution. Delaying activation may reduce overall performance if some weeds continue to germinate under low soil moisture conditions or if herbicide at the surface of the soil is susceptible to sunlight breakdown.
Remember, if you’ve already got seedlings germinating, you will want to include a post-emergent product as well, such as paraquat, glufosinate (broadleaves and grasses), Aim, or Venue (small broadleaves only). Pre-emergent products will also have little to no efficacy on your difficult perennial weeds that will emerge from belowground vegetative structures. These will likely need to be controlled later in the season with other well-timed, post-emergent products. For example, we’ve had good luck in Eastern NY controlling quackgrass with applications of Select Max (or other generic clethodim) in April, making applications when quackgrass has greened back up and is between 6-12 inches in height.
Add a post-emergent product this spring if your weeds have already begun to emerge.
While we do our best to be as accurate as possible, remember to always review the label before selecting your materials! Changes in pesticide registrations occur constantly and human errors are possible. Read the label before applying any pesticide. The label is the law. No endorsement of companies is made or implied.
Announcements
Summer Tour at Highmoor Farm, July 29, 2026
This year’s tour will be held at Highmoor Farm in the afternoon with an indoor program to start and an orchard tour after. Our guest speaker will be Kari Peters, a fruit pathologist from PennState University, who will talk about apple and peach diseases. The tour will be followed by dinner and a twilight meeting with David Handley, Mark Hutton and Peyton Ginakes. More details later. This event is sponsored by the Maine State Pomological Society.
Hudson Valley to Host IFTA Summer Study Tour – July 20-22, 2026
Save the date for the 2026 IFTA Summer Study Tour, to be held in the Hudson Valley, New York, July 20 – 22, 2026.
The International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA), together with regional partners, is planning a multi-day tour showcasing the Hudson Valley’s diverse tree fruit systems. Tour highlights will include commercial orchards, research facilities, and innovative marketing models. Participants can expect a strong emphasis on grower-led insights related to finished fruit production, value-added enterprises such as cider, and connections to regional markets.
Additional details including the tour itinerary, host sites, and registration information will be released in the coming months. To find this information, please visit the International Fruit Tree Association website.
Renae Moran
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Tree Fruits
PO Box 179
Monmouth, ME 04259
(207) 933-2100
Mention of a trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product, nor does it imply approval or disapproval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit extension.umaine.edu/nondiscrimination.