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Rutgers Snyder Farm:
First bloom (3 May) was moderate to slightly light at the Snyder Farm site on Red Delicious in
1999. Full Bloom occurred on 7-8 May, roughly to 5-7 days ahead of traditional bloom dates. A
sufficient bloom period (+7 days) produced only 1 day of adequate sunlight (75% full) containing
warm temperatures (+65ºF). Since this trial was being conducted on the pollinizers of a much
larger Gala block, the trees of this trial did not determine thinning needs of the block. Pollination of
the block was a concern, and chemical thinning at early petal fall (12 May) was done with only
20gm(ai)/A Accel® until fruit set was determined. Once further thinning of the block was
determined necessary, a follow up application of 1 qt/A Sevin® XLR Plus was made 2 weeks later
(28 May) during the 8 - 12 mm fruit stage.
Weather conditions during the morning hours of 10 May, at the time the treatments were applied,
were sunny with a temperatures ranging from 59ºF - 66ºF and a relative humidity of 58%. The low
temperature the night following the application was 52ºF (Figure 1). Sunlight the day of application
approached 98% of full sunlight, and the temperature peaked at 71ºF. Treatments were applied
between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm under rapid drying conditions. Trees were between 10% and 80%
petal fall at time of the treatment applications with nearly all King Blooms having shed their petals.
Pittstown Fruit Farm:
Pittstown Fruit Farm was approximately 1 to 11/2days ahead of the Snyder Farm site in stage of
fruit development. First bloom (1-2 May) on the Red Delicious was moderate to heavy at this site
in 1999. Full Bloom fell on 6-7 May, which again corresponded roughly to 5-7 days ahead of the
traditional bloom date. Weather during the bloom period was very similar to that of the Snyder
Farm site. Pollination of this block was also a concern, and no chemical thinning was done.The
treatment applications of this trial correlated with those of the Snyder Farm site, and weather
conditions corresponded.
Even with slightly heavy fruit set, and season long drought stress due to the second most severe
drought in our history, the final fruit size of this trial was adequate.
Discussion:
Snyder Farm
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