Cooperative Extension at Highmoor Farm

Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Coralstar, Veteran and Glowingstar Apples McIntosh is beginning to taste ready. However, the dark green peel color indicates it’s too early to pick for storage yet. Honeycrisp is showing signs of ripening in some blocks and has acceptable flavor. It is not ready to harvest for storage, […]

Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Coralstar and PF17 Coralstar is the better of the two varieties we picked this week. We have it in two different orchards where it ripens a week apart, so we will still be picking it next week. Veteran, PF23 and Blushingstar should be ready soon. We also […]

In this newsletter: Maturity Report Observations Announcements Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Raritan Rose, Frost Peaches we will pick next: Coralstar, PF17, Veteran Coralstar is ripening ahead of schedule because our trees have a very light crop load. Apples Paulareds at Highmoor Farm have been harvested. We do not have Gingergold, but […]

In this newsletter: Maturity Report ReTain Instructions Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Lucky 13, PF15A Peaches we will pick next: Blazingstar, Starfire Apples Paulared starch index is 3.5. Ready for a general harvest at Highmoor Farm. Pay attention to preharvest intervals for recently applied materials. Starch index is measured on a scale […]

In this newsletter: Maturity Report McIntosh ReTain Dates Orchard observations Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Garnet Beauty, an early strain of Redhaven. We are done harvesting Summer Serenade and PF 8 Ball. The better of the two is Summer Serenade. We are also done with harvest of July Rose which is a […]

In this newsletter: Maturity Report Predicted McIntosh Harvest and ReTain Dates Preharvest intervals and sprays Maturity Report Cool temperatures have slowed the ripening of stone fruit on and off the tree. When picked at the partial-ripe stage, they are taking four days to reach eating quality. Partial-ripe is when they are still firm, but not […]

In this newsletter: Maturity Report Still Time to Collect Leaf Samples Predicted McIntosh Harvest and ReTain Dates Summer Pruning Peaches Ready to Pick This Week at Highmoor Farm We began peach and plum harvest yesterday. Shiro will be ready to pick soon, but we don’t have that variety anymore, so check your orchards for signs […]

In this newsletter: Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) in Stone Fruit Time to Collect Leaf Samples Summer Tour Announcement Spotted Wing Drosophila in Cherries Unfortunately, SWD has been found in a cherry orchard in Maine. As a reminder, stone fruits are susceptible to damage by this insect pest. Plum, peach and cherry fruits become soft as […]

In this newsletter: Observations Announcements Orchard Observations Peaches are at the pit hardening phase. Hopefully, fruit thinning is nearly complete by now. This supposedly helps with brown rot control later on. Breaking up fruit that are clustered or in close contact will also help with spray coverage, disease and pest control. My initial thoughts on […]

In this newsletter: Return Bloom Sprays Summer Tour Announcement Return Bloom Sprays Some orchard blocks may have a higher than normal crop load which can inhibit the formation of flower buds. Fruit trees form next year’s flower buds in the summer beforehand. With a heavy crop, the fruits exude a hormone from their seeds that […]