This Seasons Challenges v Powdery mildew on rosemary

This Season’s Challenges

v. Powdery mildew on rosemary v. Pests in apple orchard v. Crop-nibblers: slugs & beetles v. Blight in tomatoes

Powdery Mildew on Rosemary PROBLEM - In winter rosemary plants in hoop house infected with powdery mildew.

Powdery Mildew on Rosemary § Rosemary a Mediterranean plant § Likes temp and humidity § Rosemary overwintered in hoop house with plastic row covers § Covers maintain temp above freezing but also humidity § Ideal conditions for fungal growth

Powdery Mildew on Rosemary Economic Impact • Cut rosemary sold to restaurant supplier at $5. 50 per ½ lb • At current rate of 120 lb/mo, monthly rosemary income $1, 350 • Rosemary plants also sold at $15 per flat, but market variable (and as yet largely untested, due to fungus) • Maximum possible loss from fungus if entire crop destroyed: = $1, 500 per month

Powdery Mildew on Powdery on. Rosemary HYPOTHESIS - Powdery mildew might be controlled by: 1. Changing watering methods 1. 2. air circulation around plant leaves 3. Anti-fungal sprays i. Sulfur-lime ii. Serenade iii. Baking soda

Powdery Mildew on Rosemary Seven different conditions (60 plants each): Outside Fan Sulfur-lime spray Serenade spray Sodium bicarbonate spray Bottom-up Watering Control

Powdery Mildew on Rosemary The Greenhouse OUT 3 OPEN FAN 3 FAN 4 S H A D O W S I D E FAN 1 FAN 2 BAS 1 B-U 3 B-U 4 SUL 1 SER 3 SUL 3 BAS 3 ROSEMARY PLANTS CON 1 B-U 2 CON 3 S U N S I D E SUL 2 SER 4 BAS 2 CON 4 SER 2 SUL 4 CON 2 BAS 4 O U T 1 GH-FAN O U T 4 OUT 2

Powdery Mildew on Powdery on. Rosemary Results:

Powdery Mildew on Powdery on. Rosemary Results:

Pests in in the apple Pests apple orchard • Orchard on 1 acre slope • Cultivars: Liberty, Pristine, Williams Pride, Priscilla, Redfree, Goldrush, Jonafree & Prima, (resistant to scab, fire blight and powdery mildew) • Rootstocks: Most cultivars planted on M. 7 rootstock (resistant to fire blight and root diseases)

Pests in the apple orchard Apple Moths Oriental Fruit Moth Codling Moth Tufted Apple Bud Moth Oblique-banded Leaf Roller

Pests in in the apple Pests apple orchard Apple Moths § Pheromone traps for each moth in orchard § Number of moths counted each week § Entrust, Dipel and Surround sprays timed accordingly

Pests in the appleorchard Pests in Apple Moths

Pests in the apple orchard Apple Moths Comparison of Kretschmann Farm data with PSU Experiment Station data

Other pests in apple orchard Apple Maggots Plum Curculio Mites European Apple Sawfly Sticky red spheres placed in orchard to attract maggots Dormant oil spray used in spring to reduce mite eggs

Crop nibblers: Slugs §Don’t cause significant crop losses in mature plants, but have caused cosmetic damage to large proportions of several crops (lettuce, basil, cabbage, radicchio) §CSA subscribers are more forgiving of produce imperfections than wholesale markets, but Don wants to provide high quality produce to all customers §The solution to slug-nibbled cabbage: SAUERKRAUT!

Crop nibblers: Japanese beetles Population grew in end of July Most prevalent in basil patch Pheromone traps installed for control

Crop nibblers: Flea beetles ØPrimarily affect mesclun, but also many other crops ØRow cover reduce damage ØStunt growth of seedlings and give mature plants lacy look ØSeedlings dusted with rotenone ØEggplant no longer planted because of severe infestation

Blight on tomatoes

Blight on tomatoes - Cool, wet summer: ideal conditions for blight spread - Began spraying copper hydroxide as preventative in early July - First signs of blight in mid-July: mix of early and late blight? - Poses significant threat to tomato crop and to potatoes if spreads. Thus far it has stunted some plants but not visibly damaged yields