Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News:

A Newsletter for Commercial Growers of Fruit and Vegetable Crops
A Publication of University of Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

Vol. 12 , No. 3, March 20, 2006

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." --Aristotle

Address any questions or comments regarding this newsletter to the individual authors listed after each article or to its editor, Rick Weinzierl, 217-333-6651, weinzier@uiuc.edu. To receive email notification of new postings of this newsletter, call or write the same number or address.

This issue's words of wisdom ... which usually means the jokes ... are at the end of newsletter ... check the last page.

Peaches in bloom, southern IL, 2004.

In This Issue:

Regional Updates (from Elizabeth Wahle and Maurice Ogutu)

Upcoming Meetings and Programs (March 25 Grape Pruning Workshop; June 16 Summer Horticulture Day)

Notes from Chris Doll (no severe cold injury to apples or peaches yet; now is time for grafting and top-working; small fruit variety selections; memorials to K.C. Ringhausen and Marchal Meirs)

Fruit Production and Pest Management (notes on grape flea beetle, red-necked cane borer, and lygus bugs and thrips in strawberries)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management (seed and root maggots)

University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit & Vegetable Production & Pest Management

Regional Updates

At the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, removal while others are waiting for the cooler temperatures forecast for the upcoming weekend to pass.

Jeff Kindhart (618-695-2444; jkindhar@uiuc.edu) and Bronwyn Aly (618-695-2444; baly@uiuc.edu)

From the Southern Region ... On behalf of University of Illinois Extension, I would like to express our sympathies to the family and friends of Kenneth (K.C.) Ringhausen, who passed away this past month. His friendship, knowledge, and support of the industry will be sorely missed. Please see Chris Doll's notes about K.C. later in this newsletter.

Field prep is visible, but on hold due to rainfall throughout the southern region, and pruning of fruit trees continues. Peaches are at pink in the more southern portion of region. Much of the area has received abundant rainfall, with the Mt, Vernon area reporting a total of seven inches over the past week. Temperatures have significantly dropped, but are not expected to result in any significant damage.

A pruning workshop will be held Saturday, March 25, at 9:00 am at Willett's Vineyard & Orchard. This workshop, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, will be conducted by Elizabeth Wahle and Bill Shoemaker, University of Illinois Extension. It will include a demonstration of pruning principles and techniques on dormant grape vines. Workshop participants will initially meet at Willett's Winery & Cellar, located at 105 E. Market, in Manito, Illinois, starting at 9:00 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., participants will travel to the vineyard site, located approximately 8 miles from the winery on Spring Lake Road. Don't forget to dress for the weather, since most of the workshop time will be spent in the vineyard. This is a hands-on workshop, and participants are encouraged to bring their personal hand pruners. For those just beginning, extra pruners will be available.

Grape publications will also be available for sale at the workshop, including the 2006 Small Fruit & Grape Spray Guide for $9.00 and The Midwest Grape Production Guide for $15.00.

For further information and in order to plan space for the meeting, please contact Elizabeth Wahle at (618) 692-9434 or by email at wahle@uiuc.edu.

Elizabeth Wahle (618-692-9434; wahle@uiuc.edu)

In northern Illinois, there have been wide fluctuations in day temperatures from early through mid March. The region received 1-3.5 inches of snow on March 5 with higher amounts above 2 inches in the northern counties bordering Wisconsin. The area recorded unusually warm winter temperatures between March 11and 13, with day temperatures in the 60s to low 70s, and night temperatures in the 40s. This warm weather has enabled some growers to cultivate the land. Many areas in the region received more than 2 inches of rainfall during the same period. Pruning of brambles, grapes, and tree fruits is still going on in many orchards.

Maurice Ogutu (708-352-0109; ogutu@uiuc.edu)

Upcoming Meetings and Programs

March 25, 2006, Grape Pruning Workshop ...
... at Willett's Vineyard & Orchard. Meet at Willett's Winery & Cellar, located at 105 E. Market, in Manito, Illinois, starting at 9:00am. At 9:30 am, participants will travel to the vineyard site, located approximately 8 miles from the winery on Spring Lake Road. For more information, contact Elizabeth Wahle at 618-692-9434 or wahle@uiuc.edu.

June 16, 2006, Illinois summer Horticulture Day ...
... at Boggio's Little Mountain Orchard, Granville, IL. Details to come.

Notes from Chris Doll

A warm winter led to an early spring, but it now looks like it is on hold. According to my records, 1974 had an earlier green tip on apples, but that too slowed down. The forecast for SW Illinois includes temperatures ranging from 26-51 degrees. The trees and plants should be able to withstand these temperatures. All evidence is that the peach buds survived 5 degrees on February 18 and 19, even though some swelling was visible. They are now in the swollen bud to early pink stages on varieties like Loring. Apple development sailed through silver bud and into green tip which is where they are now. This part of the state has received a fair amount of rain in March to help relieve the relatively dry conditions after 0.8 inches for January and February.

Prior to last week's rains, soil conditions were pretty good for planting of all fruit plants. Now it is a matter of grower decision whether to plant a little on the wet side or wait for drier conditions. Early planting is a plus because roots can grow at soil temperatures in the 50's.

Notching of buds to induce branching can take place now if a grower has some vigorous shoot growth on young trees. The deadline for this treatment is now for areas south of interstate 70. Northern areas have more time, but there is no need to delay. To perform the operation, use a sharp knife to cut through the bark into the xylem just above the bud -- right in the axil of the bud. For large diameter shoots, scoring above the bud might improve the chances of success.

Another timely to-do is to collect scion wood for any grafting and top-working that needs to be done. It is very close to what I consider the ideal time for grafting apples, which is between cluster bud and bloom time. The scion wood must be kept cold and moist until used.

At the Illinois Small Fruit and Strawberry School last week, we were updated on strawberry and red raspberry varieties by Dr. Courtney Weber of Cornell. There are excellent write-ups on both in the School's Proceedings, but I tried to select those that I feel are best for the area and to make trial plantings. Early strawberries listed were Earliglow, Annapolis, Honeyoye and Itasca for trial; mid-season varieties are Darrselect, Jewell, and L'Armour for trial; and late varieties are Allstar, Cabot, Ovation, Clancy and Serenity -- the latter two for trial. Red raspberry varieties included Prelude, Boyne and Killarney for early, Canby and Nova for mid-season, and Encore and K81-6 for late varieties. The fall-bearing primocane varieties (which are much better adapted north of here) were Autumn Bliss, Autumn Britten and Caroline. Heritage remains a reliable variety but has smaller fruit size. Many growers in the I-70 latitude feel as I do, that all these varieties bloom and fruit too early for our part of the state.

Dr. Mike Ellis of Ohio State University presented up-to-date information on disease control for both strawberries and brambles. The key point of the presentation was that Botrytis or gray mold is best controlled by spraying during bloom rather than post-bloom and pre-harvest.

In Memoriam: Kenneth "K.C." Ringhausen of Hardin (Calhoun County) died on February 18 following a battle with cancer. K.C. was born and raised in Calhoun County and was a life-long grower of fine apples and peaches, a tradition now continued by his son Tom. He was a U. S. Marine veteran, and served time as both county treasurer and on the County Board for many years. He was preceded in death by his wife Lela Mae "Red" Ringhausen in 1992. K.C. is survived by his wife Ava, two sons and two daughters, five grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. He will be missed by all for his personality and wit, and by some of us for his card-playing ability.

Another memorial notice is for Marchal Meirs of Houston, Mo., who died on March 10. Marshall was an old friend to many fruit growers in southern Illinois and elsewhere where he worked and field representative for California Chemical Company into the Ortho division in the 1960-70's. He too will be missed by all who were touched by him.

Chris Doll

Fruit Production and Pest Management

Notes on Some Key Small Fruit Insects

• Grape flea beetles and cutworms in grapes: When grape buds begin to swell in the next few weeks (depending on your location in Illinois), remember that the first insects to look for are cutworms and flea beetles. Grape flea beetles are shiny, metallic blue or greenish blue, and about 3/16 inch-long. They overwinter as adults and move into vineyards as buds begin to swell. They chew holes into the sides and ends of newly developing buds, sometimes destroying primary, secondary, and tertiary buds. Later feeding by larvae or adults on foliage is usually negligible, but bud damage can cause extensive crop loss. Scout twice weekly for flea beetles throughout every vineyard, paying special attention to borders but also examining buds in the centers of plantings. Treat if more than 4 percent of buds are damaged and flea beetles are present. Climbing cutworms also feed on and destroy buds, feeding mostly at night ... bud damage in the absence of flea beetles is often caused by cutworms. For more information, see pages 97-98 of the Midwest Grape Production Guide, available from Ohio State University Extension, Media Distribution, 385 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1044; phone: 614-292-1607; or on-line at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b919/0001.html. Insecticides that are effective against flea beetles and cutworms in grapes include Sevin and Danitol.
• Red-necked cane borer (and bronze cane borer) in raspberries and blackberries: Pruning out and burning canes of brambles damaged by red-necked cane borer (damaged canes produce galls 1 to 3 inches long, especially in the lower foot of the cane) now can kill overwintering larvae and pupae and reduce subsequent infestations. Do this by the first of May in southern Illinois. For illustrations and life history information on this insect, check pages 91-92 of the 2004 edition of the Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook, available from Ohio State University Extension, Media Distribution, 385 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1044; phone: 614-292-1607; or on-line at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b861/index.html.
• Lygus bugs and thrips in strawberries: For matted-row producers in northern Illinois, this recommendation is way early, but for plasticulture strawberry growers in southern Illinois, the timing is not far off (despite the March 20-21 rain/sleet/snow) ... as soon as blossom buds begin to open, scouting for lygus bugs (including tarnished plant bug) should begin. For specifics on these insects, see pages 37-41 of the 2004 edition of the Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook, available from Ohio State University Extension, Media Distribution, 385 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1044; phone: 614-292-1607; or on-line at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b861/index.html. Several insecticides are labeled for control of one or both of these insects; choices include Sevin, Endosulfan, Danitol, and Brigade. For an up-to-date listing of registered insecticides and their re-entry and pre-harvest intervals, see the 2006 Midwest Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide, available as ICSG3-06 from University of Illinois Information Technology and Communication Services at (800) 345-6087 or (217) 333-2007 or on-line at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/sfg/.

Rick Weinzierl (217-333-6651; weinzier@uiuc.edu)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management

Seed and Root Maggots

Seed and root maggots in the genus Delia (including seedcorn maggot, cabbage maggot, and onion maggot) are common pests of early-seeded vegetables. They are most common and damaging in cool, wet soils in which germination and seedling growth are slow; they also are most numerous where green manures or animal manure has been incorporated in recent weeks (because flies choose to lay eggs in such fields). Signs of their damage are poor stands where seeds and seedlings are killed before emergence and damping off of seedlings that are killed by soil fungi after being injured by larvae of these species. The old standard cultural control recommendation is to plant in warm soils where germination will be rapid, but that recommendation doesn't produce a cop for the earliest possible (and often most profitable) market. Using transplants instead of direct seeding does, however, avoid damage to cucurbits (seeds are susceptible to seedcorn maggot). For seed treatment and soil insecticide recommendations for crops attacked by seed and root maggots (peas, beans, sweet corn, cucurbits, cole crops, onions, radishes, and more), consult the 2006 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide, available from University of Illinois Information Technology and Communication Services at (800) 345-6087 or (217) 333-2007 or on-line at http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomology/ext/targets/ID/index.htm.

Left: cabbage maggot (Michigan State Univ.); right: seedcorn maggot (Univ. of Minnesota)

Rick Weinzierl (217-333-6651; weinzier@uiuc.edu)

Words of Wisdom

I'll return to printed words again some time, but here's a picture with some words ... (and wisdom might make one wonder about this particular establishment) ...

University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit and Vegetable Production & Pest Management

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