Commercial Fruit
-
Note: This publication contains data from an average of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 orange harvest seasons (exceptions noted in the chart). The commercial citrus industry in Georgia has only recently been established, with most groves planted after 2014. As of 2022, approximately 75% of the 3,300 acres of citrus planted in Georgia are satsumas, but that proportion is trending downward. To strengthen the new Georgia citrus industry, growers recently have begun to diversify their citrus varieties. Research is being conducted to determine how these varieties will perform under Georgia weather and soil conditions: which varieties can best tolerate Georgia’s winter weather, and what are the cultural norms such as maturation time, fruit quality, and insect and disease tolerance. This publication is associated with Circular 1275, the initial publication containing reference photos for the varieties tested.
|
-
The Athena bunch wine grape training system was developed by the University of Georgia to increase crop yield in modest-yielding cultivars. The Athena is a divided-canopy system retrofit to the industry standard single-canopy trellising system with vertical shoot positioning. Athena training involves laying four canes and dividing the canopy through a series of cross arms fastened to the vineyard posts in a V-shape. The goal of this publication is to educate new growers, seasoned industry members, and Extension agents on the Athena training system for bunch wine grapes.
|
-
There are two main trellising system categories: divided and single canopy. Jerry Watson, a grape grower and owner of Austin County Vineyards in Cat Spring, Texas, developed the divided canopy “Watson System” in 2002 to solve some issues he was having with bunch rot management and harvest inefficiency in his ‘Blanc Du Bois’ and ‘Lenoir’ vineyards. By adding a series of cross arms and catch wires to his high wire system, Jerry was able to improve spray penetration to the fruit zone and increase picking efficiency at harvest. The Watson hardware and wires separate clusters from the canopy foliage and limit cluster touching compared to a standard, single high wire system. The Watson system has since been employed in the Southeastern U.S. and can be found as far west as California. The Watson system is currently used for training hybrid and trailing grape cultivars such as, but not limited to, ‘Blanc du Bois’, ‘Norton’, ‘Lenoir’, ‘Lomanto’, ‘Crimson Cabernet’, and ‘Villard blanc’. A high wire-trained vineyard, such as those planted with ‘Chambourcin’, ‘Seyval blanc’, ‘Vidal blanc’, ‘Traminette’, and other cultivars could be retrofitted to Watson training with success. Future research will evaluate hybrid and Vitis vinifera cultivars that have yet to be evaluated for training on the Watson system.
|
-
This is a new annual guide for managing diseases, insects, weeds, and wildlife in bunch grapes in the Southeast. This regional integrated pest management guide provides recommendations based on information from the manufacturer’s label and performance data from research and Extension field tests. This publication is intended for use only as a guide. Specific rates and application methods are on the pesticide label, and these are subject to change at any time.
|
-
The commercial citrus industry in Georgia has only recently been established, with most groves planted after 2014. Initially, satsuma mandarins (Citrus unshiu) on trifoliate rootstocks (Poncirus trifoliata) were planted for their cold-hardiness, seedlessness, and ease of peeling. Satsuma fruits begin to attain commercial maturity in early November and usually avoid hard freezes in southern Georgia. As of 2022, approximately 75% of the 3,300 acres of citrus planted in Georgia are satsumas, but that proportion is trending downward. To strengthen the new Georgia citrus industry, growers recently have begun to diversify their citrus varieties. Little is known about how these varieties will perform under Georgia weather and soil conditions. Therefore, research is necessary to determine what varieties can best tolerate Georgia’s winter weather and to determine cultural norms such as maturation time, fruit quality, and insect and disease tolerance. This publication is associated with Circular 1275, the initial publication containing reference photos for the varieties tested.
|
-
This circular covers basic postharvest harvesting, handling and cold storage principles for fresh-market blueberries to ensure the highest possible shelf-life and quality while minimizing postharvest losses. Blueberries are harvested in Georgia from late April to late June. Southern highbush varieties are harvested early in the season while rabbiteyes ripen toward the end of the season. It is important to remember that berry quality is linked to both price and consumer acceptance, so providing consumers with good-quality fruit is key to the success of your operation. Machine harvesting is possible, especially for varieties that are resistant to bruising; hand-harvesting costs are a major expense in blueberry operations. Even though machine harvesters require a significant amount of capital, the investment is cost-effective in the long run for most producers. It is important to note that not all blueberry varieties are suitable for machine harvest. In Georgia, most rabbiteye varieties are machine-harvested, especially for the processed market. Blueberries are a highly perishable commodity, and their shelf life often is limited by high rates of respiration, softening, water loss, loss of flavor, mechanical damage, and decay. Therefore, reducing the temperature of the fruit as soon as it is harvested is crucial.
|
-
Freeze protection efforts should be based on the type of freeze, temperature, and wind speed that is impacting your crop. To apply frost protection, consider your crop value, the freeze protection capacity of your system, and the crop’s susceptibility to injury at each growth stage.
|
-
C 1267
Blueberry Pre-Establishment
This publication covers the considerations producers need to have in mind when choosing a site to plant blueberry. It describes the soil characteristics that are needed to grow and produce blueberry, how to identify good soil, soil drainage, and how prior crops could affect blueberry productivity.
|
