Growing Organic Apples

Transcription

1 Growing Organic Apples Organic growing means providing the absolute best of cultural management Growing Organic Apple trees will need your time, money and attention from the time you plant them till you turn them into firewood or move away! Good soil and air drainage 1

2 Spur type Trees have fewer growing points less pruning, better air movement Vegetative Growth and Fruit Production Fruiting slows vegetative growth Pruning promotes vegetative growth Genetics slows or modifies vegetative growth 2

3 Fruit Tree Sizes Fruit Tree Sizes with Rootstocks Fruit Tree Sizes on Rootstocks Birds And The Bees Self unfruitful trees need a different variety for pollination 3

4 Pollen Sterile Apples Baldwin, Creston, Gravenstein, Jonagold, Boskoop, Mutsu, Crispin, Rhode Island Greening, Roxbury Russet, Shizuka, Spigold, Stayman, Bramley s Seedling, Wealthy and Winesap Pollination requires two different varieties to be in bloom together and pollinating insects to be active If you plant one of these, you need to plant two more cultivars for proper cross pollination Partially Self Fruitful Rome Apples Golden Delicious Apples Self Unfruitful Most other apples** Protection for Fruit Trees Young Trees Insects and Foliar Diseases Weather Rabbits Deer Field Mice Grass and Weeds Lawn Mower String Trimmer Kids 4

5 Protection for Fruit Trees Foliage Chewing Insects Caterpillars, Beetles Deer Protection Foliar Disease (apple and foliage) Apple Scab Cedar Apple Rust Systemic Disease (Idared and Jonathan apples especially) Fire Blight Weather Root system Trunk Roots to a lessor extent Promote Early Fruit Production Begin Training Early Manage Vegetative Growth Monitor Nutrients Soil temperature moderation, rabbit protection 5

6 Fruit Tree Pruning Develops Strong Tree Manages Size and Shape Improves Fruit Quality Training System Central leader Apples Side system when all else fails Start Training the First Year To develop the appropriate training system To develop the proper branching angles To develop the appropriate scaffolds 6

7 Using clothes pins to train branch angles Cement weights and clothespins A little later, toothpicks do the trick In successive years wire spreaders are used 7

8 Interesting Approach If spreaders are continued, larger and longer ones are necessary Uses a stake and a small portion of plastic trunk protector Thinning Of Apple Fruits Improves Flavor Improves Size Lessens Structural Damage to Tree Improves Annual Bearing Improves Cover Spray Applications Homeowners can use twine instead of spreaders to get the desired branch angles Note the stakes are inside the mulched area Thin apples to an average of 6 8 inches apart 8

9 Why We Spray Appearance of Tree and Fruit Nobody wants to bite into an apple and only find half a worm Neighborhood bragging rights If you don t you have plenty of apples for the local horse stable or maybe cider Committed to the Challenge Bad fruit becomes a clean up problem Spray Programs What are we protecting Foliage during early tree development Foliage and Fruit during production Scaffolding and Trunk When are we spraying Dormant Season Early Spring through Harvest 9

10 Home Orchard Typical Equipment Hand Pressurized 1 5 gallon sprayer Electric sprayer Hose end sprayer How much Spray per Application Early in the season less than a gallon to one gallon per tree Later several gallons per tree to protect foliage and fruit Insecticides for organic production Microbials Botanicals Soaps and Oils Abrasives Pheromones Elemental compounds Disease management guidelines for organic apple production in Ohio apple.html Organic small fruit disease management guidelines (Ohio) state.edu/fruitpathology/organic/pdf/osu Organic Blueberry Diseases.pdf Tree fruits: Organic production overview (ATTRA) pub/fruitover.html 2011 MOSES Organic Farming Conference 10

11 Insecticides OMRI insecticides for small scale organic growers Mating disruption against codling moth and peachtree borers ¼ acre orchard or greater Codling moth virus against codling moth Entrust or another spinosad product against codling moth (fair at 7 to 10 day intervals), apple maggot, STLM, leafrollers GF 120 (same ingredient as in Entrust) as a bait for apple maggot control BT (Dipel and others) against leafrollers Oils against San Jose scale, mites, and aphids Neemix and pyrethrins against Japanese beetle Bagging individual fruits excludes direct pests Mycotrol and similar fungal insecticides not well matched to pest spectrum Organic Materials Review Institute The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is a national nonprofit organization that determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production and processing. OMRI Listed or approved products may be used on operations that are certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program. Spray Schedule Dormant spray while temperatures are above 32 degrees for at least 24 hours Early season sprays start at bud break, also called pink tip Application is every 4 5 or 6 7 days through petal fall Fruit Cover sprays ever 7 10 to days till preharvest limit Natural enemies (predators and parasites) and pollinators For general information, see FINAL.pdf For information on plants that enhance natural enemy abundance: Growing Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects ( tm) Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants ( List of pest repelling plants ( repelling_plants) High Value Pollinator Plants ( _ pdf) 11

12 OMRI Approved Pesticide Organic Materials Review Institute A non profit that approves substances (pesticides, soil amendments, etc.) Pesticide must be cleared by certification agency Things to keep in mind OMRI pesticides are regulated Just like conventional pesticides Must still follow EPA FIFRA laws/regulations and state BPC Title 7 and Title 22 laws/regulations Must also follow worker protection standards Depending on the product, there may be certain restrictions that need to be followed if used in production Things to keep in mind Organic pesticides are still toxic Treat OMRI pesticides just like conventional pesticides Read labeling and follow directions Utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) Pesticides must be added to organic plan Always verify with certifying agency Not all agencies will allow all OMRI approved pesticides Things to keep in mind Pesticides are added and removed every year to the OMRI approved list What you could use the previous year, you may not be able to use this year Follow through with IPM plan and utilize OMRI pesticides as the last resort 12

13 Types of Organic Pesticides Granules/Powders Oils Microbial Liquids Combinations Botanicals derived from plants Pyrethrins From pyrethrin daisies Axonic poisons Low in toxicity to mammals Very rapid breakdown... no residual action Used to kill fleas and lice on humans and pets; labeled for use on many fruits and vegetables Neem From all parts of Azadirachta and Melia spp. Mode of action unknown Low toxicity to mammals; used medicinally Very short persistence Labeled on many crops and landscape plants, especially against softbodied insects Microbials Spinosads Entrust by Dow Derived from a soil actinomycete Effective against a range of insects, including apple maggot (fair), oriental fruit moth, and codling moth Oils Dormant oils Stylet oils reduce virus transmission, may suppress powdery mildew Summer oils Against mites, aphids, other soft bodied pests Coverage is essential (upper and lower leaf surfaces); oils kill by suffocating pests that are sprayed directly 13

14 Insecticidal soaps Salts of fatty acids Kill insects by disrupting membranes (including tracheal linings) Work only against those insects that are wetted by the spray... no residual action Effective against aphids, whiteflies, mites, and other soft bodied, not too mobile pests Best known brand names are Safer s and M Pede Make your own? Generally... NO Absorbents and abrasives Clays, diatomaceous earth, silica aerogels disrupt the insect s cuticle and kill by dehydration Kaolin... Surround Surround(Kaolin Clay) Nonsynthetic, ground particles made from Kaolin Clay, a noncaking ingredient. How does it work? Places a sheath barrier and acts as irritant if it gets on insect Pest Examples: apple maggots, white apple leafhopper, pear psylla, vine borer, cucumber beetles, stink bugs When to use: applied with water at sign of damage or flowering Pheromone trapping in codling moth management Pheromone: An intraspecific message carrying chemical In Lepidoptera, females emit a mating pheromone to attract males (And yes, other species may detect pheromones and use them to locate hosts or prey the same chemical then acts as a kairomone to the benefit of the receiver.) Diatomaceous Earth Nonsynthetic, ground particles made from diatoms (tiny aquatic organisms) How does it work? Powder makes incisions into insects and causes them to dry out Pest Examples: many pests When to use: applied at sign of damage or flowering Other information: may effect pollinators 14

15 Neem Oil/soap Nonsynthetic, oil from the neem tree How does it work? Acts as an antifeedant Pest Examples: Vegetables: Mexican Bean Beetle, Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB), caterpillars, squash bugs, some stinkbugs, some aphids Fruit crops: aphids, tarnished plant bugs, leaf hoppers, leaf miners When to use: presence of pests Example(s): many different variations available Pesticidal Soaps Soaps formulated to provide the best insect control with minimal damage to plants How does it work: appear to break down the waxy insect cuticle and block respiration Pest Example: Work best against soft bodied pests such as aphids, mealybugs, mites, and whiteflies. Example(s): M Pede and Safer s Insecticidal Soap Horticultural Oils Derived stems and leaves from some plants How does it work: blocks the respiratory openings and causes suffocation Pest Examples: primarily against small, sedentary insects and related organisms aphids, overwintering aphid eggs, mite eggs, and scales. Example(s): Garlic and hot pepper oils (no different than plain horticultural oils) Rosemary oil and cinnamon oil may be more effective then other oils for some insects Sulfur Synthetic material, controls plant diseases as protectant from pathogens. How does it work? It inhibits spore germination and growth in fungal pathogens Pest examples: powdery mildew on many crops, brown rot on peaches When to use: Apply before appearance of disease Other issues: May cause injury to some crops/varieties 15

16 Bordeaux Mix Copper sulfate with calcium hydroxide Pest examples: downy and powdery mildew of grapes, fireblight and apple scab in apple, foliar diseases of tomatoes When to use: apply in early spring with diluted mixture on young foliage Other information: different rates may be needed through out the season Persists through wet conditions Disease management guidelines for organic apple production in Ohio apple.html Organic small fruit disease management guidelines (Ohio) state.edu/fruitpathology/organic/pdf/osu Organic Blueberry Diseases.pdf Tree fruits: Organic production overview (ATTRA) pub/fruitover.html 2011 MOSES Organic Farming Conference Resources University of Illinois Extension s Local Foods and Small Farms Webinars: Organic Insect and Disease Management OMRI List of Products lists Cornell: Resource Guide for Organic and Disease Management (pdf) NC State s CEFS: Organic Production Guides guide.html Baculoviruses culoviruses.html. Nematodes matodes.html Plant resistant varieties Apples resistant to apple scab, fire blight, cedar apple rust, and/or powdery mildew See the Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook and the Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook for listings. Don t assume heirloom varieties are more resistant. Use rootstocks resistant to fireblight and woolly apple aphid. 16

17 Destroy infested plants and crop residues Natural enemies, biological control Pick up and destroy summer drops in apples (Mowing/chopping dropped leaves also reduces primary inoculum for apple scab) Predators, parasites, and pathogens To enhance their success... Recognize them; know what they do Minimize insecticide use Use selective insecticides in selective ways Maintain favorable habitats Provide alternative foods (pollen, nectar, etc.) Exclusion and repellency Rodent guards around trunks of apples Bagging apples shortly after bloom excludes insects and diseases ogy/entfacts/fruit/ef218.htm#bag Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America. A Shelton, Cornell University 17

18 Insecticides for organic production Microbials Botanicals Soaps and Oils Abrasives Pheromones Elemental compounds Microbials Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki and aizawai Toxic only to Lepidopteran larvae (caterpillars) Must be ingested to be effective Degraded by ultraviolet light... short residual activity on treated foliage Good targets in fruits: leafrollers Not effective against: larvae that bore or tunnel into plants without much feeding on the surface (such as codling moth and oriental fruit moth) Dipel, Agree, XenTari, and many others Insect pathogens as microbial insecticides Viruses Cyd X is a microbial insecticide containing the virus that infects codling moths Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (various subspecies) Many formulations of Bt are sold for control of caterpillars Fungi Beauveria, Entomophthora, and Metarrhizium spp. Mycotrol is a microbial insecticide containing Beauveria bassiana Nematodes Steinernema & Heterorhabditis Microbials Spinosads Entrust by Dow Derived from a soil actinomycete Effective against a range of insects, including apple maggot (fair), oriental fruit moth, and codling moth 18

19 Botanicals derived from plants Pyrethrins From pyrethrin daisies Axonic poisons Low in toxicity to mammals Very rapid breakdown... no residual action Used to kill fleas and lice on humans and pets; labeled for use on many fruits and vegetables Neem From all parts of Azadirachta and Melia spp. Mode of action unknown Low toxicity to mammals; used medicinally Very short persistence Labeled on many crops and landscape plants, especially against softbodied insects Insecticidal soaps Salts of fatty acids Kill insects by disrupting membranes (including tracheal linings) Work only against those insects that are wetted by the spray... no residual action Effective against aphids, whiteflies, mites, and other soft bodied, not too mobile pests Best known brand names are Safer s and M Pede Make your own? Generally... NO Absorbents and abrasives Clays, diatomaceous earth, silica aerogels disrupt the insect s cuticle and kill by dehydration Kaolin... Surround Oils Dormant oils Stylet oils reduce virus transmission, may suppress powdery mildew Summer oils Against mites, aphids, other soft bodied pests Coverage is essential (upper and lower leaf surfaces); oils kill by suffocating pests that are sprayed directly New planting Summary Use varieties resistant to scab, fire blight, cedar apple rust, and/or powdery mildew Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook (and other sources) Prune and thin for disease management and yield Weed mats, mowing, and grass cover crops for weed control 19

20 Credits including images Dr. Richard Weinzierl Extension Specialist, Entomology Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois Images only Richard Hentschel Extension Educator Horticulture University of Illinois Extension University of Illinois image library Questions? 20

21 Types of Organic Pesticides Granules/Powders Oils Microbial Liquids Combinations Microbials Spinosads Entrust by Dow Derived from a soil actinomycete Effective against a range of insects, including apple maggot (fair), oriental fruit moth, and codling moth 1

22 Botanicals derived from plants Pyrethrins From pyrethrin daisies Axonic poisons Low in toxicity to mammals Very rapid breakdown... no residual action Used to kill fleas and lice on humans and pets; labeled for use on many fruits and vegetables Neem From all parts of Azadirachta and Melia spp. Mode of action unknown Low toxicity to mammals; used medicinally Very short persistence Labeled on many crops and landscape plants, especially against softbodied insects Botanicals NOT approved or NOT effective for application to plants Rotenone Nicotine Sabadilla Ryania Hot pepper oil Garlic oil Citronella Pennyroyal 2

23 Oils Dormant oils Stylet oils reduce virus transmission, may suppress powdery mildew Summer oils Against mites, aphids, other soft bodied pests Coverage is essential (upper and lower leaf surfaces); oils kill by suffocating pests that are sprayed directly Insecticidal soaps Salts of fatty acids Kill insects by disrupting membranes (including tracheal linings) Work only against those insects that are wetted by the spray... no residual action Effective against aphids, whiteflies, mites, and other soft bodied, not too mobile pests Best known brand names are Safer s and M Pede Make your own? Generally... NO Absorbents and abrasives Clays, diatomaceous earth, silica aerogels disrupt the insect s cuticle and kill by dehydration Kaolin... Surround 3

24 Pheromone trapping in codling moth management Pheromone: An intraspecific message carrying chemical In Lepidoptera, females emit a mating pheromone to attract males (And yes, other species may detect pheromones and use them to locate hosts or prey the same chemical then acts as a kairomone to the benefit of the receiver.) Surround(Kaolin Clay) Nonsynthetic, ground particles made from Kaolin Clay, a noncaking ingredient. How does it work? Places a sheath barrier and acts as irritant if it gets on insect Pest Examples: apple maggots, white apple leafhopper, pear psylla, vine borer, cucumber beetles, stink bugs When to use: applied with water at sign of damage or flowering 4

25 Diatomaceous Earth Nonsynthetic, ground particles made from diatoms (tiny aquatic organisms) How does it work? Powder makes incisions into insects and causes them to dry out Pest Examples: many pests When to use: applied at sign of damage or flowering Other information: may effect pollinators Neem Oil/soap Nonsynthetic, oil from the neem tree How does it work? Acts as an antifeedant Pest Examples: Vegetables: Mexican Bean Beetle, Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB), caterpillars, squash bugs, some stinkbugs, some aphids Fruit crops: aphids, tarnished plant bugs, leaf hoppers, leaf miners When to use: presence of pests Example(s): many different variations available 5

26 Horticultural Oils Derived stems and leaves from some plants How does it work: blocks the respiratory openings and causes suffocation Pest Examples: primarily against small, sedentary insects and related organisms aphids, overwintering aphid eggs, mite eggs, and scales. Example(s): Garlic and hot pepper oils (no different than plain horticultural oils) Rosemary oil and cinnamon oil may be more effective then other oils for some insects Pesticidal Soaps Soaps formulated to provide the best insect control with minimal damage to plants How does it work: appear to break down the waxy insect cuticle and block respiration Pest Example: Work best against soft bodied pests such as aphids, mealybugs, mites, and whiteflies. Example(s): M Pede and Safer s Insecticidal Soap 6

27 Sulfur Synthetic material, controls plant diseases as protectant from pathogens. How does it work? It inhibits spore germination and growth in fungal pathogens Pest examples: powdery mildew on many crops, brown rot on peaches When to use: Apply before appearance of disease Other issues: May cause injury to some crops/varieties Bordeaux Mix Copper sulfate with calcium hydroxide Pest examples: downy and powdery mildew of grapes, fireblight and apple scab in apple, foliar diseases of tomatoes When to use: apply in early spring with diluted mixture on young foliage Other information: different rates may be needed through out the season Persists through wet conditions 7

28 Resources University of Illinois Extension s Local Foods and Small Farms Webinars: Organic Insect and Disease Management OMRI List of Products lists Cornell: Resource Guide for Organic and Disease Management (pdf) NC State s CEFS: Organic Production Guides guide.html Baculoviruses culoviruses.html. Nematodes matodes.html Disease management guidelines for organic apple production in Ohio apple.html Organic small fruit disease management guidelines (Ohio) state.edu/fruitpathology/organic/pdf/osu Organic Blueberry Diseases.pdf Tree fruits: Organic production overview (ATTRA) pub/fruitover.html 2011 MOSES Organic Farming Conference 8

29 Plant resistant varieties Apples resistant to apple scab, fire blight, cedar apple rust, and/or powdery mildew See the Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook and the Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook for listings. Don t assume heirloom varieties are more resistant. Use rootstocks resistant to fireblight and woolly apple aphid. Destroy infested plants and crop residues Pick up and destroy summer drops in apples (Mowing/chopping dropped leaves also reduces primary inoculum for apple scab) 9

30 Exclusion and repellency Rodent guards around trunks of apples Bagging apples shortly after bloom excludes insects and diseases ogy/entfacts/fruit/ef218.htm#bag Natural enemies, biological control Predators, parasites, and pathogens To enhance their success... Recognize them; know what they do Minimize insecticide use Use selective insecticides in selective ways Maintain favorable habitats Provide alternative foods (pollen, nectar, etc.) 10

31 Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America. A Shelton, Cornell University Insecticides for organic production Microbials Botanicals Soaps and Oils Abrasives Pheromones Elemental compounds 11

32 Insect pathogens as microbial insecticides Viruses Cyd X is a microbial insecticide containing the virus that infects codling moths Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (various subspecies) Many formulations of Bt are sold for control of caterpillars Fungi Beauveria, Entomophthora, and Metarrhizium spp. Mycotrol is a microbial insecticide containing Beauveria bassiana Nematodes Steinernema & Heterorhabditis Microbials Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki and aizawai Toxic only to Lepidopteran larvae (caterpillars) Must be ingested to be effective Degraded by ultraviolet light... short residual activity on treated foliage Good targets in fruits: leafrollers Not effective against: larvae that bore or tunnel into plants without much feeding on the surface (such as codling moth and oriental fruit moth) Dipel, Agree, XenTari, and many others 12

33 Microbials Spinosads Entrust by Dow Derived from a soil actinomycete Effective against a range of insects, including apple maggot (fair), oriental fruit moth, and codling moth Botanicals derived from plants Pyrethrins From pyrethrin daisies Axonic poisons Low in toxicity to mammals Very rapid breakdown... no residual action Used to kill fleas and lice on humans and pets; labeled for use on many fruits and vegetables Neem From all parts of Azadirachta and Melia spp. Mode of action unknown Low toxicity to mammals; used medicinally Very short persistence Labeled on many crops and landscape plants, especially against softbodied insects 13

34 Oils Dormant oils Stylet oils reduce virus transmission, may suppress powdery mildew Summer oils Against mites, aphids, other soft bodied pests Coverage is essential (upper and lower leaf surfaces); oils kill by suffocating pests that are sprayed directly Insecticidal soaps Salts of fatty acids Kill insects by disrupting membranes (including tracheal linings) Work only against those insects that are wetted by the spray... no residual action Effective against aphids, whiteflies, mites, and other soft bodied, not too mobile pests Best known brand names are Safer s and M Pede Make your own? Generally... NO Absorbents and abrasives Clays, diatomaceous earth, silica aerogels disrupt the insect s cuticle and kill by dehydration Kaolin... Surround 14

35 New planting Summary Use varieties resistant to scab, fire blight, cedar apple rust, and/or powdery mildew Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook (and other sources) Prune and thin for disease management and yield Weed mats, mowing, and grass cover crops for weed control 15