Garlic crops are off to a healthy start for the 2026 growing season. Rain is in the forecast, which is much needed in areas still under severe drought in Maine, but this may be conducive to foliar pathogens and clove rots. It is time to begin scouting garlic to ensure that any problems are identified […]
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Early Outlook on Frost and Bud Survival Minimum temperatures this morning were close to the point where freeze damage can occur especially in low spots and frost pockets. I did an initial assessment of injury by inspecting flower buds from a few locations at Highmoor Farm and found some damage but only in the lower […]
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In this newsletter: Bud Stage Development and Hardiness Announcements Bud Stage at Highmoor Farm It’s that time of year again when we worry about freezing temperatures that kill flower buds. Warming temperatures push buds to stages where they lose hardiness, so any cool down below freezing makes us nervous. If you are considering an application […]
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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 […]
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In this newsletter: When to begin pruning Pesticide Applicator Training and Certification Maine Ag Trades Show Northeast Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series Other Announcements When to Begin Pruning? Fruit trees are fully dormant and should be able to tolerate temperatures that occur this time of year in southern Maine. Temperatures in northern Maine can be […]
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Maturity Report Many of us now grow varieties that ripen very late but are vulnerable to the first freeze in fall. A freeze is expected tomorrow morning in some locations. Predicted low temperatures for the Monmouth area are expected to be around 30 ºF, but it could get colder in low-lying areas. The temperature may […]
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We are sharing the following information provided by Tommy Higgins, State Executive Director, Maine Farm Service Agency. As of Thursday, September 18, six counties in Maine are now classified as D3 (Extreme Drought): Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Franklin, Somerset, and Oxford. In addition, our coastal counties stretching from Washington to Lincoln have remained in D2 (Severe […]
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Maturity Report Apples McIntosh apples at Highmoor Farm have been harvested. Both strains of McIntosh are too ripe for long-term storage. None of our blocks were treated with ReTain or Harvista. Honeycrisp blocks have been harvested. Fruit remaining on the tree indicate that ripening is at an advanced stage and are too ripe for cold […]
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Last Issue of the 2025 Season David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist; Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology; Christina Howard, Maine New Farmers Project Manager We have retired all of the trapping locations for our spotted wing drosophila monitoring program over the past two weeks. The numbers reported […]
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Maturity Report Apples McIntosh apples at Highmoor Farm are dropping off the tree in all blocks indicating that the window has passed for harvesting storage apples. Our blocks were not treated with ReTain. Starch index and Delta Absorbance (DA) numbers have not changed from last week, but I measured the fruit still on the tree […]
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