By Ashley Robinson According to researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA), supplemental irrigation can have a significant impact on peach tree growth. When Dario Chavez, assistant professor of peach research and Extension, started his research with UGA in 2014, he noticed that most growers were not irrigating their young peach trees in newly established orchards. Fruit production begins after …
Protecting Peaches From Scale and Borers
By Ali Sarkhosh This time of the year, during winter pruning and tree topping/hedging, you will probably see tiny white insects on peach tree limbs and branches. In most cases, these insects are scales, which cause branches to die back. If not treated, tree death can eventually occur. SCALE CONTROL Scales, normally white peach and/or San Jose scale, are serious …
Peaches Benefiting From Seasonal Weather
(ACES) — Cool weather is just what peach trees across Alabama need. Edgar Vinson, a fruit crop specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System said peaches and other tree fruits need adequate chill hours to produce a good crop. “As of mid-December, we have received at least half of the total chill hours needed for most peach varieties in the state’s two major …
Can a Lower Rate of Hydrogen Cyanamide Be Used in Peaches?
By Tripti Vashisth and Bikash Adhikari The Florida peach industry has an advantage of producing fruit in the early-market window before Georgia and South Carolina fruit hits the market. CHILL HOUR ACCUMULATIONMild winters and fluctuating temperatures in fall continue to be some of the biggest challenges for peach production in Florida. Peach trees are deciduous; therefore, they need a certain …
Managing Nematodes in Peaches
By Alison DeLoach Nematodes are known to cause severe damage to growers’ crops in Florida. Don Dickson, a nematologist at the University of Florida (UF), has spent his career helping growers manage nematodes. At a Peach Field Day on April 30 held by the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Dickson presented nematode research. In Florida, there are four …
Bags Protect and Improve Peaches
By David Campbell and Danielle Treadwell Peach growers have rediscovered a tool to add to their integrated pest and disease management toolbox — a unique paper bag. Easy to install and remove, the bag has extra durability to withstand wind and rain throughout the season. And if our data is consistent with previous observations, bagging may be affordable for many …
Winter Defoliation for Florida Peaches
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 …
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 …
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 …
Putting Australian Peaches and Raspberries to the Test
By Breanna Kendrick Rachel Itle, assistant research scientist in fruit production and genetics at the University of Georgia (UGA), and Dario Chavez, assistant professor at UGA, recently spent two weeks in Australia collecting seeds from wild raspberries, peaches and citrus. Itle and Chavez plan to use this seed collection to breed new varieties of raspberries and peaches specifically for the …