2024 Tree fruit season wrap up
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EmailLooking back at 2024 and preparing for next season with fall IPM practices.
As the 2024 season comes to an end, it is time to reflect on the challenges of the past year and think ahead to next year with fall integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
Season overview
As this season draws to an early close, it is important to remember it began an average of 10-14 days ahead of the normal apple season timeline. The window for apple growing has been consistently shifting earlier in the year, as highlighted in Randy Beaudry’s article on seasonal temperatures and fruit development. This change in seasonality is particularly impacting spring and fall weather, which has implications for critical management decisions. For example, the bloom window is during a colder time of the year with greater risk of frost damage. Additionally, the harvest window is during a warmer period, which reduces fruit coloring opportunities and may lead to softer fruit.
In thinking ahead, we must plan for infrastructure to support orchards through these difficulties and maintain fruit quality. For frost protection, consider investing in microsprinklers and frost fans. For coloring, consider investing in reflective mulch and transitioning to high density systems with more planar canopies and greater light interception in addition to selecting high coloring variants for new plantings. These practices are going to be increasingly important to maintain consistent fruit quality.
The hot summer weather also caused issues with sunburn and associated lenticel damage. Sunburn damage will result in reduced long-term storability. Sunburn mitigation strategies include suppressants like particle films or sunscreen, evaporative cooling with microsprinkler irrigation during key heat periods, and protective netting. For more information, see these Michigan State University Extension articles on sunburn in apple and strategies to mitigate it, and how to protect fruit from sunburn.
Fall IPM practices
While this season is ending, now is the time to set yourself up for IPM success next year. One great way to reduce disease pressure next year is to reduce the overwintering inoculum load now. Overwintering fungi like apple scab and cherry leaf spot are dependent on orchard detritus for shelter and nutrients. Applying urea to the soil will stimulate the microbes that break down leaves and fallen fruit and can soften leaves, making them easier for earthworms to digest. Fall foliar nitrogen applications can also reduce cherry leaf spot inoculum in impacted cherry orchards.
Additionally, you can accelerate leaf and fruit decomposition with flail mowing this fall. This physical breakdown increases microbial activity and disrupts the physical formation of apple scab spores. Studies have shown that shredding leaves can reduce scab risk by 50-65%.
Fall is a critical time to control woody perennial weeds and apply preemergent herbicides. See weed management in fruit systems starts with fall herbicide application for more information.
This past spring had excellent conditions for bacterial canker of cherry development If you have symptoms of this disease (blossom blast, gummosis and/or leaves with shot hole), consider making a fall copper application. The bacteria overwinter in leaf scars and bud scales. Copper applied at leaf fall can reduce the overwintering inoculum load and lower disease pressure next year.
Southwest injury may occur in the winter months and can be prevented by painting trunks with white latex paint in the fall. White trunk guards can also prevent southwest injury. Trunk guards are important to have on trees prior to the winter season to protect them from rodent damage. Young trees are especially vulnerable to southwest injury and rodents, so being proactive is critical.
This was a tough year for pest management. The weather was very conducive to high insect and disease pressure. Now is a great time to review your spray records to identify any gaps in your IPM program that need to be addressed next season.
