By Breanna Kendrick According to Ali Sarkhosh, assistant professor of tree fruit at the University of Florida, peach growers in Florida should consider the leaves on their peach trees during two times of the year. The first time is after harvesting the fruit in June, July and August. He says it’s important to keep the leaves on trees during this …
A Peach Production Rebound
Thanks to larger crops in two Southeast states, U.S. peach production this season rose 5 percent. Rod Bain has the details. Sponsored ContentTriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway in the Southern PiedmontFebruary 1, 2024Celebrating 50 Years of GrowthDecember 1, 2023
Program Vows to Create Peach Variety Ideal for the Lower Coastal Plain
A program based in Byron, Georgia, is working on developing peach varieties perfect for the lower coastal plain. Now, the lower coastal plain consists of growers in South Georgia and a few in North Florida. However, according to Tom Beckman, U.S. Department of Agriculture research horticulturist, this industry could grow tremendously. He says it has the potential to stretch through …
Putting Florida Peaches in the Spotlight
Believe it or not, many consumers and retailers do not know that peaches are grown in Florida. However, thanks to a Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation (FSCF) and Fresh From Florida (FFF) are working to raise awareness of Florida peaches. FSCF initially received the grant in 2017. After two successful seasons, the grant has been extended …
New Peach Rootstocks Show Potential
By Breanna Kendrick Could new rootstocks offer hope for peach growers struggling with difficult disease issues? Tom Beckman spoke about the potential for some of his advanced rootstock selections at the recent Stone Fruit Field Day in Citra, Florida. Beckman, a U.S. Department of Agriculture horticultural researcher, noted that one selection in particular could be a replacement for Guardian rootstock, …
Review of New Peach Rootstocks
By Breanna Kendrick If you’re a peach grower trying to decide what rootstock to use, Tom Beckman has some advice. At the recent Stone Fruit Field Day in Citra, Florida, Beckman spoke about new rootstock options available. A research horticulturist with the United States Department of Agriculture, Beckman is working on developing new rootstocks for the peach industry in the …
Managing Caribbean Fruit Fly on Peaches
By Breanna Kendrick Cory Penca, an entomology Ph.D. candidate and a student in the Doctor of Plant Medicine program at the University of Florida, gave a presentation at the recent Stone Fruit Field Day on managing key pests of peaches in Florida. One of the many pests he discussed was the Caribbean fruit fly. Caribbean fruit fly is specifically a …
Selecting Herbicides for Stone Fruit
By Breanna Kendrick With perennial crops such as stone fruits, growers are limited in their weed management options because they can’t choose practices like crop rotation. Therefore, selection of proper herbicides is critical for effective weed control. Peter Dittmar, assistant professor with the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, specializes in weed …
Rootstock Addresses Peach Disease Issues
By Breanna Kendrick MP-29 is a hybrid plum-peach rootstock that was created to give peach growers another weapon in the disease-fighting toolbox. Tom Beckman, a U.S. Department of Agriculture research horticulturist, discussed MP-29 at the recent Stone Fruit Field Day in Citra, Florida. MP-29 is the most recent rootstock release from Beckman’s breeding program. Beckman created MP-29 because growers needed …
Managing Scales in Peach Orchards
By Breanna Kendrick Cory Penca, a Ph.D. candidate as well as a student in the Doctor of Plant Medicine program at the University of Florida, recently presented at the Stone Fruit Field Day in Citra, Florida. His presentation covered basic pest management tactics for scales, among many other pests of peaches. Scales are difficult to manage because they have a …