Fruit Bites for May 31 and June 2 Weather Impacts

BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us again is Valent’s Allison Walston. And this week Allison, we are talking about past, present and future weather and how it impacts our fruit.

AW: April brought snow and freezing temperatures during bloom, too cold and dreary for bee pollination and then last summer’s heat dome. We’ve had some unique weather. It looks like the trend might be unpredictable extreme weather and the need to pivot quickly.

BL: heat, drought, freezes, hail – what types of problems do these conditions cause?

AW: During heat waves, sunscreens like Raynox Plus can be used to help prevent sunburned fruit, more about this in the upcoming weeks. For drought prevention, the plant needs to have a well-established root system. Products like MycoApply mycorrhizae can help extend that root network with fungal hyphae getting into all the small crevices for more water uptake. Products like Promalin after a freeze can help set parthenocarpic fruit instead of no fruit. If a cool & wet spring, products like ProVide can help prevent the threat of russet.

BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.