Profitability of Using Tarps
Researchers at Highmoor have summarized their tarping research with colleagues from Cornell University in this new research paper. To read the full article, click on the image below.
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Tree Fruit Newsletter — January 2024
Weather Update The expected cold temperatures this weekend are not likely to be cold enough to kill peach or cherry buds in southern Maine. We measured hardiness in peach buds last week and found them to have a few degrees more hardiness than last year at this time, probably hardy to -7 °F for about […]
Read moreTime to Mulch Your Strawberries
Although strawberries have long been grown successfully in Maine, they are not particularly hardy plants. However, because of the low growth habit of the plants, and their tendency to grow in protected areas near wood lines in the wild, they are often covered with leaves and snow during the coldest parts of the winter, which […]
Read moreCucurbit Downey Mildew Alert — July 10, 2023
Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) symptoms were identified and the CDM pathogen was isolated from cucumber plants in Cheshire County (southwestern NH) on Friday July 7, 2023. There are few other reports in the region (https://cdm.ipmpipe.org/), and the forecasts you may be used to seeing have been suspended due to lack of funding. With recent rainy […]
Read moreTree Fruit Thinning Concerns
Now that fruitlets are starting to show signs of fruit set and growth, decisions about whether or not to apply a thinner can be made if sufficient flowers survived the May 18th freeze. Highmoor Farm has a few orchards that had less than 20% damage, so fruit set looks heavy. In these orchards that seem to need […]
Read moreFrost Protection Tips For Strawberries
Frost Protection Tips For Strawberries A significant frost/freeze event is being predicted for Wednesday night-Thursday morning. This has the potential to injure and kill susceptible strawberry flowers and buds that are now present in most strawberry fields. Growers should be ready to protect their plants with irrigation and/or row covers. Check your pump, pipes and sprinkler heads to be […]
Read moreNew Directory for Local Farm Product and Pick-Up Options
Many farms across Maine have added alternative ways customers can obtain farm products to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Maine farmers are updating this database in an effort to increase public access to their farm products during this time. You can view the website and map at this farm product […]
Read moreHelpful COVID-19 Resources for Farmers Markets and U-Pick Farms from NC State Extension
As we continue to work through how best to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspective of retail farming, North Carolina State University has developed some very helpful factsheets. You can view them at the links listed below, or visit their webpage for more information. Farmers Market COVID-19 info sheet U-Pick Farms COVID-19 info […]
Read moreHelpful Information for Vegetable and Fruit Farmers Regarding COVID-19
The University of Vermont Extension has put together some helpful information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and how vegetable and fruit farmers can address this issue on their farms and within their markets. See Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19.
Read moreHutton Gives Growing Produce Tips for Reducing Soil Compaction on Farms
Mark Hutton, a vegetable specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and professor in the UMaine School of Food and Agriculture, told Growing Produce there are several methods farmers can use to protect their crops from the harmful effects of soil compaction. Methods include minimizing vehicle and foot traffic in the field, alternatives to […]
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