In this newsletter: Thinning Strategies Peach Leaf Curl Announcements Thinning Strategies for 2025 The prolonged cool weather during full bloom has me concerned about pollination in Honeycrisp and other varieties that bloomed after McIntosh at Highmoor Farm. Temperatures in the forecast for the Augusta area look favorable for some pollination Monday assuming that it is […]
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Leek Moth Leek moth is a pest of allium crops that was first found in the US (New York) in 2009. It is not widespread in Maine – it was identified in Franklin and Somerset counties in 2021 but not since. However, because leek moth is problematic in other northern New England states and neighboring […]
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Full Bloom Conditions Return bloom appears adequate in most apple blocks at Highmoor Farm. Some trees of Honeycrisp have sparse bloom intermixed with trees that have good return bloom. Honeycrisp and most other varieties are in full bloom today. Cherries and early blooming apples are at petal fall. Pollination conditions have been good in early […]
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STRAWBERRY BLOOM = TIME TO PREVENT FRUIT ROT Spider Mite Populations Growing, White Grubs Found in Weak Plantings Situation: The mostly cool and damp weather has slowed strawberry development across the state. Early varieties such as Wendy and Honeoye are coming into bloom. Early fields under rowcovers are in full bloom in the southern part […]
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Potential Botrytis Leaf Blight Symptoms of Botrytis leaf blight were found on garlic at all scouting locations this week – Buxton, Monmouth, Topsham, and Washington, ME. Samples of symptomatic plants are being sent to the UMaine Plant Diagnostic Lab for confirmation. Conditions certainly have been favorable for development of this pathogen, as discussed in last […]
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In this newsletter: Bud Stages Announcement Flower Bud Development at Highmoor Farm McIntosh apples have passed tight cluster and have reached the early stage of pink. Honeycrisp and Gala trees are in the late stage of tight cluster, but king blooms are showing pink. Asian pears are showing some white. European pears were under an […]
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STRAWBERRY BLOOM BEGINS IN SOUTHERN MAINE No Insect Problems Yet, Spider Mites Found Everywhere; Bloom Sprays Should Target Gray Mold Situation: Early strawberries under rowcovers have just started to bloom in the southern part of the state. Overall, fields look good, some slightly ahead of average development for this time. As expected, there is evidence […]
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Disease Forecasting Cool, wet weather this week has slowed down GDD accumulations for insect pests and instead favored the development of fungal diseases. Three major fungal pathogens of garlic are combined into one onion diseases tool on NEWA, which is helpful because controls for all three are similar. This issue will break down how to […]
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In this newsletter: Bud stages at Highmoor Farm Brown Rot Blossom Blight of Stone Fruit Prohexadione and aggravation of bitter pit in Honeycrisp Thinning Peaches with Acceede SG® Flower Bud Development Flower bud development has been, thankfully, slow this spring. Honeycrisp apples are still at half-inch green. McIntosh and Gala are just starting tight cluster. […]
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Disease Forecast Alert: Conditions in Bangor, Lewiston, and Milton, NH may be favorable for onion downy mildew and Botrytis leaf blast development in coming days. See NEWA onion diseases for details – more on these in a future newsletter. Onion Maggot Onion maggot (Delia antiqua) can be a serious pest of allium crops. Overwintered pupae […]
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