Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
Over a dozen different rootstocks have been observed in various orchard situations with local growers in Butte County over the past twenty two years. The complete results of these trials can be found in past Annual Rootstock Project Reports to the Almond Board of California. The following article summarizes what the author believes are the most useful results and conclusions. Continue reading
It’s well known that non-infectious bud failure is a genetic disorder that occurs in many almond varieties in California. Nonpareil or any variety with Nonpareil parentage in its genetic background can be affected by the disorder, most notably Carmel. Continue reading
Peach twig borer (PTB) larvae damage new shoots and, if the timing of their generations is just right, can feed on almond kernels at hullsplit causing shallow surface groves on the kernel. Oriental fruit moth (OFM) damage looks similar and its best to monitor both pests with pheromone traps to determine if either of them have the potential for nut damage. Continue reading
A wet winter is when having an orchard planted on a deep, well-drained soil, or planting on berms, islands, or mounds can pay off. Some orchards on soils that are not well-drained or have been flooded can face difficulties when … Continue reading
Potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese nutrient deficiency symptoms are more prevalent where soils are wet, cold, and saturated. Foliar nutrient sprays can provide quick correction of symptoms and improve tree color and vigor if indeed that is the reason trees were performing poorly in the first place. Continue reading
Always be aware of honey bees when they’re in your orchard to pollinate your crop. After all, you’re paying good money for the bees to do a critical job! You can go a long way toward protecting the health of honey bee colonies by avoiding contamination of pollen and pollen foragers and by avoiding products with potential toxicity to honey bees or their larvae while bees are in your orchard. This is good husbandry and it’s in the interest of both the grower and the beekeeper. Continue reading
Roger A. Baldwin, UCCE Wildlife Specialist, Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, UC Davis and Joseph Connell, UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus, Butte County Pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) may be responsible for more damage to orchards than any other mammal species. It’s … Continue reading
Leaf rust, favored by high humidity and leaf wetness, was prevalent in most vigorous young Sacramento Valley orchards this year. The late rains in May and mid-June really got it going in some locations, with additional fungicide treatments needed to minimize defoliation. Continue reading
Did you notice yellow, flagging almond branches this spring?
The anthracnose fungus overwinters in infected mummies left on the tree and in dead twigs or branches resulting from infections the previous year. This year’s infections start when spores are splash dispersed by rain to the bloom or to new nuts. If small nuts are infected, they shrivel and turn a rusty orange color. Later in the season, if hulls are infected when nuts are full size, hulls gum and begin to shrivel. Continue reading