By Clint Thompson
Zero to minimal rainfall across Georgia over the past month should prompt the state’s peach producers to implement an essential management strategy.
Though peach season has come and gone and with the trees nearing dormancy, growers must consider their trees’ water needs amid the current drought.
Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent for Peach and Taylor counties, explains the importance of irrigation applications heading into October.
“As dry as it is, where we have irrigation, we’re definitely watering. It helps them go dormant properly. If they stress out, they seem to not want to lose their leaves,” Cook said. “We need them to go to bed as early as possible so we can get as much cold as possible, if it ever gets cold.
“There’s not a water use curve for peaches especially this late in the year. We’re just trying to supplement because we have had no rain for three weeks.”
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Georgia is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, while some areas, specifically in the southwest and northern parts of the state, are observing moderately dry conditions.