Florida Peach Crop Early This Year

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Florida’s peach crop was about 80% this year. It was also earlier than normal, explains Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “The people that thinned on time are going to do well. I think we’ve had people picking since March. In north-central Florida, there’s been people picking …

Sweet Turnaround: Bountiful Peach Crop for Georgia Producers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Mid-April arrived, and with it came a spring heat wave for the first time this year. The threat of freezing temperatures should be over, meaning peach growers can celebrate. “We should have plenty of peaches,” said Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “Now, our sales force …

Georgia Peach Producer: We’ve Got 100% Crop Everywhere

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson One North Georgia peach producer is optimistic this year’s crop will have a different ending than a season ago. The crop has already dodged one late season freeze event. The countdown is on for Drew Echols to see if he and other farmers are out of the woods for any future sub-freezing temperatures. “We got down to …

Peach Producers Should Remain Timely with Fungicide Spray Applications

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Southeast peach producers should remain timely with their fungicide applications amid the persistent rainy conditions being experienced across the region. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, highlighted a couple of diseases the growers should be concerned with. “I’m sure they’re on top of it, but with the amount of rain and some of …

Looks Can Be Deceiving: Tiny San Jose Scale Packs Threatening Punch to Peach Orchards

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson San Jose scales may not appear threatening to peach orchards across the Southeast, but looks can be deceiving. Growers should treat them as a threat to this year’s peach crop, says Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “If you look at San Jose scale, adult or immature …

San Jose Scale Control Essential for Peach Producers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Now is the ideal time for peach producers to protect this year’s crop against San Jose scale insects. Especially as temperatures continue to increase, so too should the numbers of scale insects invading peach orchards in the Southeast. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said it is …

Alabama Peach Trees Enjoying High Chill Hours

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Alabama peach trees are off to a strong start this year thanks to high chill hours. But growers are also aware this is just the first step in establishing a crop for the upcoming spring, says Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University “It’s looking pretty good as …

Georgia Peach Trees Enjoying High Chill Hours

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s peach producers have overcome one of the first obstacles of the production season – accumulating enough chill hours. Now comes the next challenge – surviving a potential late-season frost event. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, provided an update on chill hours which have been …

Peach Producers Yearning for Bumper Crop in ’24

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches, South Carolina

By Clint Thompson No matter what state you are located in throughout the Southeast, if you are a peach producer, you are in dire need of a rebound season in 2024. Peach production was at such historical lows in 2023 that growers don’t just need production to return to normal this year; they need a bumper crop. “It always hurts …