HORTICULTURE

2007 MASS Aggie Seminar

Win Cowgill, Rutgers Coop. Extension

Massachusetts peach production

Peaches• 380 acres• 2.0 million lbs ($0.75)• $1.5 millionApples• 4,100 acres• 28.5 million lbs ($0.38)• $10 million

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MA is on the very northern edge of peach growing country

Most Important Issues

• Flower Bud Hardiness

• Tree Hardiness

• Bacterial and fungal cankers

• Peach tree borers

Back to Basics

Location-only best orchard sites• Frost free site-know past weather

history• North facing - delay bloom• Well drained fertile soils

N

More Basics

Plan two years ahead• Soil tests• Adjust pH and nutrients• Nematode assays? • Add soil organic matter• Control perennial weeds• Order trees

Type of Tree To Order

•Smaller caliper•Weak tree•Low buds

Pay Attention to Proper Establishment

• Correct pH and Correct pH and NutrientsNutrients

• Establish Raised Establish Raised bedsbeds

• Establish sod middles Establish sod middles and herbicide strips and herbicide strips the fall beforethe fall before

Root Distribution

Root DistributionStops at Turf

Weed FreeHerbicide Strip

Soil Preparation

• Subsoil Prior to planting

• Clay Pot Effect From Auger - (fall)

• Break sides before planting

Planting Depth& Lime

• Correct planting depth• Leave graft union 2”

above• Two or more pounds of

calcium lime in backfill

Cultivar Selection

• Select only bud hardy cultivars-most California cultivars are not hardy enough

• Bud vs. wood hardiness

• Unique Cultivars white flesh-non melting flesh

Donut Peaches

Avoid Winter Injury

• Southwest injury

• Peach borers

• Cytostopora canker

• Paint trunks whiteExterior White Latex Paint2 to 1 waterLow acrylic content

Cytospora Canker

•Most Serious Problem in the North East•Prune at bud-break in April if possible•Paint Pruning cuts on scaffolds•Use tree paint with benomyl

Peach Fertility

• Soil and tissue tests• Split applications of nitrogen• 1st app. in a complete fertilizer 3-4 weeks

prior to bud break to supply 1/2 total seasonal N requirement

• 2nd app. at shuck split• If frozen out eliminate 2nd app.• Do not over-apply nitrogen• Do not apply N After June 15

Peach Thinning

• Large Size is Essential• Thin Early-consider bloom thinning• Wiffle bat, toilet brush, fan belt on

broom handle• At least 6-8” between peaches -- at

least!

Sweet Cherry

•Dwarfing Rootstocks-Gisela

Concerns-

1. Cracking-rain-covers

2. Birds-netting

3. Bacterial Canker

Sweet CherryGisela Rootstocks

Hartland/G6Heidlefingen/G5

Bacterial Canker

• Bordeaux sprays

• Summer prune only

• Stub prune

• Resistant cultivars

More information?

Web sites…

www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/

http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/