Madeline Wimmer- UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator Apples : Growth stage updates: Apples between 12–24 mm, rapid shoot growth Removing newly emerging water sprouts Apple scab update Grapes: Growth stage update: 6–8 leaves separated Bloom: Petiole sampling for nutrient analysis Berry crops: Pest highlight: Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) About SWD Monitoring SWD adults and larvae Managing SWD Apples Growth stage updates: Fruitlets between 12–24 mm, rapid shoot growth Images: A step by step demonstration of hand removal of a newly emerging water sprout from a larger scaffold branch on a freestanding central leader trained apple tree. Image from Sekapp Orchard in Olmsted County, MN (Zone 5a) . By the time apple fruitlets begin to grow past 10 mm in circumference, a good amount of shoot growth has typically occurred. In SE Minnesota orchards, many fruits are between 12-24 mm depending on the location, variety, and other factors; vegetative shoots were around 7 inches long and stil...
Marissa Schuh A hot weekend shifted into a week of wildfire smoke over much of the state. Some areas got some soaking earlier this week, and there is some more rain in a forecast, a relief as much of greater Minnesota is abnormally dry or in D1 drought . Some beautiful early season produce is being harvested and heading to markets and CSA boxes. Wildfire smoke and plant health The effects of wildfire smoke on plants is poorly understood, and what we do understand is that it is complex. For example, while the smoke does block some sunlight, it also creates diffuse light, which can more easily penetrate the plant canopy than direct sunlight. If the smoke is high in ozone, this can damage plants, causing a variety of white and yellowing speckling on a wide range of vegetable crops. The impact of the smoke will also vary depending on how close or far you are from the source , we may see different things in parts of Northern Minnesota where there were local fires, compared to the metro and...