Thinning Outlook Most of our orchard blocks have excessive fruit set. Gala, McIntosh and Cortland have 4 to 5 fruitlets per cluster with almost no flowers dropping. Honeycrisp is showing signs of fruit set in most of the king blooms, but for side blooms, it’s too early to tell. In Macoun, it’s too early to […]
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Tarnished Plant Bug Active in Strawberry Fields Spider Mite Populations Higher in Most Fields This Week Situation Early strawberry varieties are now past full bloom in much of southern and midcoast regions of the state. Midseason varieties are nearly in full bloom. Generally, it takes 20-25 days for fields in full bloom to reach harvest […]
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Good growing conditions have continued, with moderate rainfall and warming temperatures encouraging the start of garlic bulb development. No major new diseases, or progressions in foliar diseases, have been observed at any scouting locations, and plants are generally healthy. Insect Pests With several recent warm spells, growing degree days (GDDs) that drive insect development are […]
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Thinning Update Apple and pear trees are close to petal fall today at Highmoor Farm. Most chemical thinners become effective at this time. Here is a link to the Guide’s section on thinning: Specific Apple Variety Thinning Recommendations : New England Tree Fruit Management Guide : UMass Amherst BA-type thinners (Maxcel, Rite-Way, Exilis) are not effective […]
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In this newsletter: Thinning Time Announcements Thinning Time Apples & Pears Apple and pear trees were in full bloom this week at Highmoor Farm. We observed plenty of bee activity in apples, pears and stone fruits and may have to thin aggressively in the next few weeks. The combination of heavy return bloom, good pollination […]
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Strawberry Bloom in Southern Maine Insect and Mite Populations Low Situation A few warm days have advanced strawberry development across the state. Early varieties are coming into bloom, and plants that were under rowcovers are now at or just beyond full bloom. Plant growth has been slow and weak in some fields, due to the […]
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Warmer weather conditions over the last week have encouraged good garlic growth at all scouting locations, and plants will soon begin bulbing. Now is the time to apply the final nitrogen sidedress of 40 lb N per acre (or about 0.09 lb N per 100 sq ft). This will support the last of the plants’ […]
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2026 Strawberry Pest Management Season Begins Save the Date: Vegetable and Berry Growers Twilight Meeting at Clark’s Farm, June 4, 5:30 p.m. Situation Spring has been slow to start and characterized by many cool, cloudy days. Although many parts of the state are still in a moderate drought, water levels have recovered somewhat since last […]
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Cool, wet weather has not slowed garlic growth at scouting locations in Buxton, Topsham, or Washington, and plants are generally healthy with about 5-7 leaves each. Some infrequent emergence issues are being investigated and are likely the result of mites or Fusarium, both of which were highlighted in last week’s newsletter on spotty emergence. What […]
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In this newsletter: Bloom Stages Stone Fruit Diseases USDA Request for Crop Damage Announcements Bloom Stage at Highmoor Farm Apples Zestar! trees are at the pink stage, and most of the other apple varieties are at early pink. Peaches Peaches are at the balloon stage. The more tender varieties such as Desiree have a fair […]
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