Alabama peach trees continue to receive high chill hours to help make a crop this upcoming spring. According to the Alabama Extension, chill hours remain high at various locations throughout Alabama. As of early Friday morning, there were 678 standard chill hours at the Auburn University Turf Unit in Auburn, Alabama, compared to 617 last year. There were 860 chill hours …
Chilling Stat: Peaches Looking Good for Chill Hour Accumulation
Chill hours remain an integral part of a peach producer’s hope for a successful year. If the current numbers are any indication, Alabama growers could be in line for a productive season. During a webinar last week, Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, said there was 737 chill hours or …
Peach Chill Hours Make or Break Growing Season
By Mary Leigh Oliver AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — When picking up a peach from the store, consumers often don’t think about the intricate growth process fruit endures to be store ready. Peach farmers know the importance of nurturing and monitoring the peach growing process. The most important part of a peach’s growth are chill hours. These hours serve as the …
Auburn Extension Specialist Encouraged by Chill Hours Accumulation
Cooler temperatures so far in 2021 should be an encouraging sign for Alabama fruit producers who need chilling hours to make a crop this year. “I’m a little more encouraged,” said Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. “We did accumulate more and more than we originally thought by the end …
Chilly December Aiding Southeast Fruit Farmers
A chilly December should have alleviated some concerns of Southeast fruit farmers worried about chill hours in a La Nina winter, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist. “If you look at the plot of chill hours over this year, November was quite warm. I think they were running way below normal in the number of chill …
Chill Hours a Concern for Peach Producers
Peach trees need chill accumulation every fall and winter to produce a substantial crop the following season. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, is concerned Alabama producers may be lagging behind. “We’re still a little concerned about having enough chill by the end of this month. Typically, we’d like to …
Plan Ahead Before Planting This Fall
Planting fruit trees can be rewarding but only if you plan ahead. If growers don’t research their crops extensively and determine what varieties will grow best in their region, the potential rewarding experience can lead to a letdown. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, reminds commercial growers and homeowners the …
Alabama Extension Offers Planting Tips for Fruit Trees
Soon it will be time to plant fruit trees in Alabama. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, reminds growers about basic planting tips they need to be mindful of when planting trees this winter. Variety Selection Variety selection is the most important and practical way to manage diseases and other …
Remember to Plant Fruit Trees During Dormancy
Soon it will be time for homeowners and commercial growers to plant their fruit trees in Alabama. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, reminds producers, whether they’re planting peach trees or apple trees, the time to do so is during the late fall or winter when the plants are dormant. …
Oak Root Rot Biggest Threat to Peach Industry
The most dangerous threat to the peach industry in the Southeast is Oak Root Rot, a soil-borne fungus that can wipe out peach trees, according to Edgar Vinson, Alabama Extension Professor of Horticulture. Oak Root Rot or Armillaria Root Rot, causes stunted leaves, yellow defoliation, chlorotic leaves, death of branches and, ultimately, death of the tree. Unfortunately for peach producers, …