I Thble of Contents Page Performance of Peach Cultivars and Rootstocks in Central Ohio by Richard C. Funt, Mark C. Schmittgen, and John C. Golden .... 1 Evaluation of Nectarine Cultivars in Central Ohio' by Richard C. Funt, Mark C. Schmittgen, and John C. Golden . 6 Evaluation of Several Herbicides for Orchards by Richard C. Funt, Mark C. Schmittgen, and John C. Golden ... 10 Highbush Blueberry Cultivar Evaluation by Richard C. Funt, Mark C. Schmittgen, and John C. Golden .. 13 Frequency and Rates of Foliar Nutrient Sprays on Strawberry by Richard C. Funt, Gerald G. Meyers, and Ken DeWeese . ..... 17 Effect of Herbicides on Newly Planted Apple Trees, 1989 by Richard C. Funt, M. C. Schmittgen, and J. C. Golden ....... 22 0\RllE Kirklyn M. Kerr Director Preface The research described in this publication was conducted during the 1980s. Long-term weather records were exceeded in high and low temperatures and high and low rainfall regardless of the season. Over 87 cultivars or cultivar/root-stock combinations are described. They represent a cost of nearly $330,000 from federal and state supported funding and nearly $30,000 private sources as fruit tree nurseries, Ohio Fruit Growers Society, gifts, and grants. We acknowledge and are grateful to the June Alexander Research Fund and the research advisory board for their support. Also our neighbors, Sunny Hill and Sand Hill Orchards, have contributed in many ways towards the success of Overlook Farm. More importantly, this publication is dedicated to Mark Schmittgen and John Golden for their tireless energy, commitment, and dedication to fruit research and Ohio growers. Their efforts and high standards demon­ strate the fmest in field research. Richard C. Funt April, 1991 ' I II ) Performance of Peach Cultivars and Rootstocks in Central Ohio Richard C. Funtl, Mark C. Schmittgen2, and John C. Golden2 Introduction Glohaven and Sunhaven were leading of 6 (1.8 m) to 7 feet (2.1 m). Trees cultivars in 1975. Orchard sites near were trickle irrigated from May to Peach production and acreage in Lake Erie, where temperatures are September receiving 3 to 6 Ohio has declined since 1968. In modified, tend to have more consis­ gallons/tree per day. 1968, 3,809 acres were reported, but tent yields from year to year than Fruits were harvested in 1981, there were 3,273, 1,358, and 587 other areas in Ohio. Erie, Sandusky, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988. A random acres reported in 1975, 1982, and Stark, Lorain, Columbiana, and sample of 10 fruit per tree at each 1987, respectively. Peach trees were Ottawa were the leading counties by picking (minimum of three each damaged with severe winter number of trees in 1987 (Surveys, year) were measured for size and temperatures in 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1976 and 1987). color. Total fruit weight (yield) per 1985. This, in combination with late tree was measured. Cultivars which spring frosts, discouraged peach had at least 3 or more harvests were production. There were only three Methods used to estimate average yields on a crops produced in the six years 1982 per acre basis. Recordings were through 1987 (Survey, 1987). The The trees in this study came from taken on leaf defoliation winter peach crop between 1964 and 1968 breeding programs in New Jersey, damage, and bloom date. Those ranged between 100 to 550,000 Michigan, North Carolina, Califor­ cultivars having four years of bloom bushels (4.8 to 26.4 million pounds) nia, Maryland (Punt, 1977), and data were analyzed for cultivars/root­ per year. Prior to 1963, the value of Canada. The first trees were planted stock effect. the peach crop ranged between 2 and 1978, but were moved by a 3 million dollars per year, but mechanical digger and reset into a averaged only 1.5 million since 1963 larger field. Additional trees were (Survey, 1968). In 1975 growers planted in 1980 and 1981. There were Results and Discussion produced 20 million pounds and 3 trees of each cultivar/rootstock received 3.5 million dollars, the tested in a randomized design. Cultivars varied in defoliation highest income on record for peaches The trees received recommended (Table 1). California cultivars, such (Survey, 1976). In 1987, growers cultural practices to insure optimal as Flamecrest, Firered, Sunbright, produced 6.7 million pounds (2.0 growth and hardiness. They received and Suncrest, were most affected by bushels or 96 lbs/tree) and received annual late dormant and summer defoljation, while Flavorcrest was 2 million dollars (Survey, 1987). pruning, nitrogen fertilizer, her­ least affected. New cultivars Har­ The North Central and Northeast bicides, and white latex paint binger, Newhaven, Pekin, Cullinan, districts of the state are the leading applications. The paint was used to Jayhaven, Biscoe, Havis and Encore producers with 59 and 75 percent of reduce winter damage to the trunk. were not as affected as Brighton, the trees in 1975 and 1987, respec­ Trickle irrigation was installed in Redhaven, Raritan Rose, Suncrest, tively. Redhaven, Redskin, Crest­ 1984. Velvet, and Sweet Sue. The authors aven, Glohaven and Redkist were the The trees were planted 15 feet (4 .5 consider a 20% or greater defolia­ leading cultivars in 1987, while m) between trees and 22 feet (6.5 m) tion (Rating of 3, 4, or 5) to be Redhaven, Redskin, Halehaven, between rows giving 132 trees/acre serious. It has been reported that (340 T/ha). The soil was a fine clay Biscoe, Redskin, Pe~in, Loring, loam of the Cardinton-Bennington Harbrite, Harken, and Harbinger are 1Professor, Extension Fruit Specialist, Ohio type and was tile drained. The pH resistant to bacterial leaf spot, while State University of the soil maintained between 6 and Suncrest and Velvet are susceptible 2Farm Manager and Farm Worker, respec­ tively, Overlook Farm, OARDC/OSU, near 6.5. The trees were trained to an to bacterial leaf spot (Savage and Carroll, Ohio. open center system reaching a height Prince, 1972). Also, Springer (1988) Table 1. Defoliation and winter damage on peach cultivars, Overlook Farm, Central Ohio. Winter Winter Defoliation damage Defoliation damage Cultivars 1981-1983ab 1983-1984Cd Cultivars 1981-1983ab 1983-1984Cd Harbinger 1 2 1 Sunbright 4 2 3 Candor 1 2 3 Suncrest 3 2 2 Early White Flamecrest 3 2 3 Giant 3 2 3 Compact Sweethaven 1 2 2 Elberta 1 2 1 Brighton 3 2 2 Red kist 2 2 3 Earliglo 1 2 2 Sun high 2 2 2 Harbelle 1 2 3 Summerpearl 1 2 2 Reliance 1 1 2 Loring 1 2 2 Newhaven 1 2 3 Biscoe 1 2 2 Raritan Rose 3 2 3 Summerglo 2 2 2 Harken 1 2 3 NJ248 2 2 1 Redhaven 3 1 2 Madison 1 2 2 Flavorcrest 1 2 2 Cresthaven 1 2 1 Early Loring 1 2 2 Redskin 1 2 2 Pekin 1 1 3 Havis 1 2 2 Harbrite 2 2 3 Jerseyglo 1 2 2 Topaz 1 2 2 Marqueen 1 2 2 Cullinan 1 1 3 Sweet Sue 3 2 2 Jayhaven 1 2 3 Firered 3 2 3 Glohaven 1 2 2 Encore 1 2 2 Harmony 1 2 2 Cal. Red 2 2 3 Velvet 3 2 3 a1981 & 1983 Defoliation 1. No apparent infection 2. 5-20% defoliation 3. 20-35% defoliation 4. 35-50% defoliation 5. 50-65% defoliation bData taken 6/22/81-Prolonged wet spring Data taken 7/25/83-Prolonged cold, wet spring cwinter Damage Rating 1. Little or no damage 2. Moderate damage (20-400/o dead wood) 3. Severe damage (41-100% dead wood) dRatings are for cultivars on Halford or Lovell rootstocks, except Harbinger/Sib C, Reliance/Eib., Compact Elberta/Eib; Cal Red, Flavorcrest, Flamecrest, and Firered, all on Nemaguard. lists Sweet Sue, Redhaven, Marqueen standard for winter hardiness, had a injury is known to contribute more and Harmony as least resistant and value of 2. Harbinger, Compact to loss of bearing surface and tree Candor, Harbelle and Redkist as Elberta, Cresthaven, and NJ248 had death than any other factor in most resistant to bacterial leaf spot. less shoot damage (value of 1) than Northern U.S. and Canada. The After suffering low winter Redhaven while many others showed leading peach production problems temperatures during 1983-84, the greater damage than Redhaven. Cold in Ohio are low winter temperatures, amount of shoot (wood) damage was injury contributed indirectly to spring freezes and canker borer pro­ evaluated using a rating system in orchard short life by lowering the blems (Hall, 1978). late May of 1984 (Table 1). Redhaven tree's tolerance to diseases such as Harbright, Cullinan, Jayhaven, the cultivar which breeders use as a peach canker (Anon, 1975). Cold Suncrest, Redskin, and Summerglo trees produced the largest peaches Table 2. Fruit size, fruit color, and yield of peach cultivars, Overlook Farm, (Table 2). Generally, they averaged Central Ohio, 1981-1988. three inches (7.5 em) or more in diameter. Madison, Jayhaven, Sum­ Fruit merpearl, NJ 248 and Summerglo Size Color Yield (lbs)c obtained the highest average annual Cultivarab (in.) (% red) Tree Acre yields. However, there were insuf­ Harbinger/Sib C 2.6 87 51.2 6764 ficient years to present trends and Candor/Sib C 2.7 71 76.7 10121 differences among cultivars. Average Sweethaven/Hal 2.5 67 66.6 8786 yields reported in Jackson, Ohio, Harbelle/Hal 2.6 71 62.3 8222 were similar to those in this report Brighton/Hal 2.6 76 43.5 8740 (Hartman, 1978). Earliglo/Lov 2.4 66 47.2 6226 Fruit color is important in today's Reliance/Eib 2.7 53 66.7 8798 market.