I had my fifth chat with Chris on July 2…

Blue Roof Orchard has been experiencing more and more rain lately. Fortunately, there are no major issues to report. The foliage looks good, though Chris anticipates that disease may become a concern as time progresses.

Insect problems have been minimal. Chris has noticed some potato leafhopper damage, which is normal for this time of year. The insect traps, set for codling moths and leaf rollers, have been relatively empty. They did spot the first Japanese beetles last week. The beetles target the foliage of most varieties as well as the fruit of early-ripening varieties. Although Chris hasn’t started spraying for Japanese beetles yet, he plans to use BeetleGone, a BT product that requires frequent reapplication as new populations of the beetles enter the orchard. Japanese beetles tend to prefer shaded areas, so younger trees at Blue Roof are less affected. For those younger trees, they spray neem (Aziguard) to deter Japanese beetles and potato leafhoppers.

The past few weeks have been slower at the orchard, with less urgent work. Chris is starting to think about the upcoming harvest and marketing, with plans to start picking in the last week of July. Weeds remain an ongoing battle with no clear victories in sight. Summer pruning is about to begin, and they need to be cautious of fire blight by only pruning on dry days. They are also hand thinning in select rows to remove more fruit and encourage larger sizes. Many shoots haven’t set terminal buds yet due to prolonged shoot growth.

That’s all for now! Check out the notes from my next chat with Chris in two weeks on July 19th. If you missed my previous chat with Chris, check it out here.

This article series is NOT intended to be prescriptive for other orchards. It is simply an opportunity for our readership to hear from other growers about their experiences growing fruit crops in Wisconsin. 

Growing the same crop does not always justify the same practices. Management decisions at your farm should be tailored to your operation and consider location, regional climate, disease and pest history of your vineyard, and your varieties. 

The mention of a product is NOT an endorsement. Always follow the instructions on product labels and consult weather stations (ex. NEWA) in your area for current weather forecast and disease and pest prediction models. 

This article was posted in Notes from the Field and tagged Apples, Chris McGuire, Leslie Holland, Notes from the Field.