Sac Valley Orchards

Clarissa Reyes, Orchard Systems Advisor, Sutter, Yuba, Butte and Placer counties Peach harvest can be predicted fairly accurately by the temperatures in the first 30 days following bloom. Other factors such as weather near harvest, soil, tree nutrition, and water status can also have some effect on harvest date. On average, we accumulate about 6,000 growing degree ...

Jaime Ott, UCCE Tehama, Shasta Glenn, Butte Counties Given the early bloom and leaf-out of our walnuts this year, spring rain will put us at risk of blight. At the time of writing, we are already past catkin expansion and into leafout in the orchards I monitor. This would be a year to have started your blight ...

Walnut production costs remain elevated, and overall profitability continues to hinge on how well growers can manage key cost drivers. With margins still tight, understanding where costs have increased over time could benefit growers in identifying areas where savings may be possible.

Crown rot and root rot caused by Phytophthora species are diseases of great concern for walnut growers. Many people believe that irrigating with surface water puts your trees at risk of Phytophthora, and that irrigating with groundwater is the best way to prevent these diseases. However, a recent study of Phytophthora in irrigation water and orchard soils tells a different story.

A lot of factors impact the planting decision. Once a site is selected, the three critical decisions in establishing a new walnut orchard are variety selection, rootstock selection, and tree/row spacing. The spacing should be determined after the variety and rootstock are chosen because that combination will determine the ultimate size of the tree, along with the soil type and orchard management. Rootstocks are the foundation of a walnut orchard. Selecting one that tolerates or resists site problems, while providing vigor for optimum tree performance, is key to orchard productivity, health, and longevity.  As pesticide and fumigant options become more limited and restrictive, rootstocks that resist or tolerate soilborne pathogens offer a pathway to long-term management.