Small Fruit News
The Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium posts articles and sends the SMALL FRUIT NEWS to subscribers four times annually.
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Compiled by Doug Pfeiffer, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24011 This year (and next) we expect in parts of our southeastern region, one of the most predictable fruit pests we have – periodical cicada! Periodical cicada will have major outbreaks in Virginia in 2020 and 2021. This pest complex is well known as…
Posted in: Spring 2020 -
Compiled by Doug Pfeiffer, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061 Spotted lanternfly is a new invasive pest so far restricted to the mid-Atlantic states. As it expands its range, it has entered the northern part (Virginia) of our Southeastern region. It is likely to expand considerably. While grape is the commercial crop at…
Posted in: Spring 2020 -
Alabama “Q&A FRIDAY!” This event will be done every Friday 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. A Facebook live event covering all things Horticulture. The event can be accessed through the team’s Facebook page. Tennessee “Fruits of the Backyard,” June 9. (in-person and virtual tours are planned) Get more information. “Steak and Potatoes,” August 4. (talks…
Posted in: Spring 2020 -
Compiled by Phil Brannen, Md Emran Ali, Jeff Cook, Sumyya Waliullah, and Owen Hudson Anthracnose fruit rot disease, caused by fungal Colletotrichum species, is one of the most significant disease problems of commercial strawberry production in Georgia and the Southeast as a whole. Dark, sunken lesions on fruit are the main disease symptoms (Fig. 1).…
Posted in: Winter 2020 -
[card title=”Upcoming Meetings”] Make plans to attend grower meetings! North American Raspberry & Blackberry Conference March 3-6, 2020, in St Louis, MO [/card] This checklist was originally developed for blackberry growers in North Carolina. You may have to adjust your work activities either earlier or later depending on your location. The winter of 2019-2020 has…
Posted in: Winter 2020 -
Compiled by John R. Clark, Distinguished Professor Exciting times! As most growers are aware, the development of new varieties is one of the key factors in successful fruit production. The continuation of breeding programs over many years is the way to sustain the flow of new varieties. Public programs (universities and USDA-ARS) have been critical…
Posted in: Winter 2020 -
[card title=”UGA Extension Viticulture Blog”] For timely updates on vineyard management, events, regional weather and more, please subscribe to the UGA Extension Viticulture Blog. [/card] Vines are generally at peak dormancy this time of year. The recent warm weather in late December/early January makes me question if this is currently true. Cold weather patterns are…
Posted in: Winter 2020 -
Compiled by John R. Clark, University of Arkansas In the last 20 years or so, I have focused substantially on sweeter berries, and also changes in plant form or architecture in blackberries. ‘Ponca’ is the most recent result of these areas of focus. It will have limited plant supply in the spring of 2020, but…
Posted in: Winter 2020 -
Compiled by Wayne Buhler and Wayne Mitchem, Department of Horticultural Science Growers utilizing paraquat for non-selective POST weed control will have to adhere to new legal requirements to use this herbicide in 2020. All herbicide products containing paraquat-dichloride (“paraquat”) are restricted-use pesticides marketed under various trade names (Gramoxone, Para-SHOT, Parazone, Quick-Quat, Firestorm, Helmquat, etc.). New…
Posted in: Winter 2020 -
Spring Cultivars: Blueberry Cultivars for the Southeastern U.S. – Bill Cline, NC State University – pptx Site Preparation and Establishment: Blueberry Site Preparation and Establishment – Bill Cline, NC State University – pptx Summer Insect ID, Biology and Management: Insect Identification, Biology, and Management in Southeastern Blueberries – Hannah Burrack, NC State University – pptx…
Posted in: Fall 2019