Fruit and Vegetable News

This article was originally published in the UMN Grape Breeding and Enology blog, Sept. 22, 2020 Authors:  Annie Klodd, UMN Extension Educator - Fruit Production Matt Clark, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist - Grape Breeding and Enology Why some growers consider propagating their own vines A popular question this week has been "How do I propagate my own grapevines from cuttings?" Some growers consider propagating their own cold climate grapevines rather than purchasing bare-root plants from a nursery.  The idea may come about with the goal of saving money on new plants. Other growers are simply interested in learning about plant propagation by trying it out.  Because cold climate hybrid grapevines are not grafted onto rootstocks like Vinifera varieties, the process of propagating is relatively approachable. It may also seem free at first glance. However, growers considering doing their own propagation should keep in mind the potential risks and cost of labor, ...

Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, Food safety Your hard-working wash and packing line equipment might be seeing a lot of carrots and their soil these days. Hygienic design is the principles of equipment design with cleanability in mind so that the excess soil and filth does not build up on the equipment. All equipment that you use during postharvest activities on the farm such as conveyors, barrel washers, brush washers, dunk tanks and spray tables can be assessed with hygienic design in mind.  Bacteria are very, very tiny. They can survive in small bumps, cracks and welds in equipment and tools. If given the right conditions (water, warmth, humidity, oxygen), bacteria can grow exponentially and form a "biofilm", which is a layer of slime. Picture the slime that builds up on a fishbowl or your dog's water bowl; that is from secretions from microorganisms. The goal is to design and purchase your equipment with easy cleaning in mind to avoid the accumulation of this bi...

Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator food safety  What are the risks with animals?  Cats are often welcome farm pets,  but should not be allowed to roam in the growing area Image: Produce Safety Alliance Fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in soil, under the sky and near both wild and domestic animals, so there is always a risk of contamination from bacteria, viruses and parasites that can transfer to your fresh produce from these animals and their feces. Virtually all animals can carry human pathogens. Large numbers of animals means more risks because they produce large amounts of fecal matter; this could enter fields through run-off, contaminated irrigation water, airborne particles, direct deposit or insects.  Animal fecal material can contain bacteria like  Salmonella ,  E coli 0157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes that can make people sick with serious illness and complications, especially the young, old, and people with compromised immune systems. T...

 Authors: Annie Klodd and Natalie Hoidal - Extension Educators-Fruit and Vegetable Production Winter squash leaves with mottling and a yellow-green mosaic, characteristic of a virus. Photo: Annie Klodd Last week, we responded to a disease inquiry in a pumpkin field, and found symptoms that looked like a mosaic virus. We immediately sent the samples to the UMN Plant Disease Clinic, and they promptly diagnosed the plants with Squash Mosaic Virus (SqMV).  Additionally, Natalie found SqMV and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) earlier in the summer, on several farms. If you suspect a virus on your crop, do not hesitate to send samples to the UMN Plant Disease Clinic or another diagnostic clinic for diagnosis. Viruses cannot reliably be self-diagnosed in the field, as visual symptoms can look similar among the various mosaic viruses.  Squash mosaic virus on zucchini. Photo: Anna Racer, Waxwing Farm. Squash mosaic virus on zucchini, near Webster, MN. Photo: Natalie Hoidal. Knowing w...

Authors: Annie Klodd, Extension Educator-Fruit and Vegetable Crops, and Anne Sawyer, Extension Educator - Water Resources.  This article was originally published on the UMN Grape Breeding and Enology blog, on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 - 2:00pm Grape harvest will be over before we know it. Now is the time to start thinking about buying and applying fall fertilizers, so they are ready before snow covers the ground. Key Points: Do not apply nitrogen in the fall, especially not before dormancy. Save it for the spring. Granular fertilizer is best applied as a broadcast directed to the vine rows If possible, avoid fertilizer application to the grassy aisles unless groundcover renovation is the intent Fertilizer application rates should be calculated based on soil and foliar tests. Use test reports from the current year or recent years. Why grapevines need fertilizer:  During the growing season, grapevines allocate significant amounts of sugars and nutrients to the fruit, which is ...

Authors: Chryseis Modderman, Extension Educator, Melissa Wilson, Extension Specialist, Annalisa Hultburg, Extension Educator Fall manure applications are right around the corner, so here are some reminders on best practices to make accurate applications and avoid nutrient loss. Application tips  Sample your manure and get it tested . Manure is a variable product so knowing the actual nutrients in the manure is important for accurate application. Don’t trust the “book value” manure nutrient tables. Those are just estimates and averages, and your manure almost definitely differs in nutrient content. A basic manure test will tell you the N, P, and K content as well as the moisture content; add-on tests can tell you about micronutrients and secondary macronutrients.  You can learn more about accurate sampling by visiting our Manure sampling and nutrient analysis page. Test your soil. While we’re on the subject of nutrient analysis sampling, you will also need to have a recent anal...

Author: Annie Klodd, Extension Educator - Fruit and Vegetable Production.  Reviewed by BJ Haun, UMN Technology Commercialization Office, Jim Luby and David Bedford, UMN Fruit Breeding Program. Once fruit is harvested, apple growers should sort the fruit by several quality traits before putting it on the shelf. Some varieties, like First Kiss ®  and SweeTango ® , must meet certain parameters before being sold by those names. This article offers tips about how to sort Minnesota apples based on marketability qualities. Zestar! apples ready for harvest on Aug. 31, 2020. Photo: Annie Klodd. In contrast to orchards selling apples via wholesale channels, growers selling direct-to-consumer have much more liberty when it comes to sorting and marketing their apples. Apples slated for wholesale must follow guidelines set by the buyer, which typically follow  USDA grading standards .  Managed varieties : Those licensed to grow club varieties including First Kiss ®  and Swee...