Horticulture
-
This publication deals with appropriate maturity indices and postharvest handling for fresh-market peaches to educate producers, pickers, packers, and shippers about how to reduce peach postharvest losses and prevent quality deterioration, recalls, and subsequent loss of value during the production and trade of peaches in the region.
|
-
Phenology refers to the sequential developmental stages, also called growth stages, that may occur in perennial plants every season. The growth stages of blueberry plants are affected by temperature, light intensity, and light duration (photoperiod). Erratic weather can impact the plant’s developmental phases. The different types of cultivated blueberries—northern highbush, southern highbush, lowbush, and rabbiteye—all possess a similar response to temperature, light levels, and photoperiod. Yield is directly related to flower bud initiation and differentiation. Therefore, growers must identify and differentiate flower buds from vegetative buds and understand their functions in order to apply the best practices from planting to harvesting.
|
-
This publication will inform growers about the factors that can affect blueberry fruit set, development, and ripening. As weather patterns are shifting, it is important to keep in mind that environmental factors influence plants’ physiological and developmental processes and understand how that translates into fruit quality each harvest season.
|
-
B 1490
Vineyard Frost Protection
The vineyard industry is growing across Georgia and across the Eastern United States. Frost is a perennial threat in these regions, and reducing frost risk can save approximately $48,000 per acre in return revenues. Since many growers new to the industry will be planting vineyards, it is important that they are aware of the risk of frost and ways to avoid it. This bulletin also serves as a good reference for current industry members who are unaware of the risk of frost or who want more information on how to manage its risk. This publication covers all aspects of vineyard frost protection, including weather patterns that cause frost/freeze damage, as well as passive and active methods that can be employed to reduce frost risk.
|
-
This publication highlights some of the ongoing research into using SSDI in organic vegetable crop production. SSDI facilitates cultivation without harming drip tubing and limits surface soil wetting, which may also reduce weed pressure. Prior research has shown that SSDI offers some advantages over surface-placed drip tubing in conventionally grown crops (Coolong, 2016).
|
-
Dooryard citrus has been grown in Georgia for decades, but growing citrus commercially is new to Georgia growers. This publication addresses problem prevention, maintenance, insects, diseases, and some physiological issues of concern in Georgia. The time of year to address maintenance, insects, disease, and physiological issues is projected. Many of the production practices in Georgia are similar to those in Florida, but some, such as timing of fertility, are different. Many of the known insects and diseases of citrus have been confirmed in Georgia while others are yet to be confirmed. As new citrus trees and varieties are brought in from citrus nurseries in Georgia and other states, more production issues will arise. Many issues covered in this publication may not be present in all commercial groves, and other issues will certainly arise. Many citrus management problems can be prevented by proper planting techniques and by selecting the best citrus varieties and rootstocks adapted to our location. Planting healthy, disease-free citrus trees in appropriate sites with adequate windbreaks and irrigation may prevent future issues and limit the need for many pesticide applications.
|
-
One of the most common questions regarding citrus is how much cold weather they can withstand before they are killed. Most citrus growers are looking for a specific low temperature, but there is no simple answer to this question because there are so many factors involved in citrus cold hardiness. This publication details research and information on the relative cold hardiness of different citrus varieties in Georgia documented from the 2022 December freeze, which saw unseasonably low temperatures. It is important to document the impact of a freeze such as this one on citrus varieties as they are a long-term investment and should be chosen carefully. Additional authors include: Danielle Williams, Mark Frye, Derrick Bown, Jason Edenfield, Justin Shealey, Ben Reeves, Holly Anderson, Tucker Price, Braxton Crews, and Kim Post.
|
-
C 928
Ground Covers
Ground covers have many practical uses. Some can be used to control erosion when planted on slopes or banks. Others are effective lawn substitutes in areas that are too shady to support the growth of grasses or areas that are difficult to mow. Densely growing ground covers also effectively control weeds by blocking light from reaching the ground. Some ground covers can be used as attractive accents in areas too narrow to accommodate shrubs. One of the most common reasons for using ground covers is to reduce costly and
time-consuming maintenance, such as mowing, edging, trimming and mulching.|
-
Autora adicional: Natalia Espinoza, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Esta circular cubre los principios básicos de cosecha, manipulación y almacenamiento en frío poscosecha de arándanos para el mercado fresco para garantizar la mayor vida útil y calidad posibles y, al mismo tiempo, minimizar las pérdidas poscosecha. Los arándanos se cosechan en Georgia desde finales de abril hasta finales de junio. Las variedades de arbusto alto del sur se cosechan temprano en la temporada, mientras que los ojos de conejo maduran hacia el final de la temporada. Es importante recordar que la calidad de las bayas está ligada tanto al precio como a la aceptación del consumidor, por lo que brindarles fruta de buena calidad es clave para el éxito de su operación. Es posible la recolección mecánica, especialmente para variedades resistentes a los magulladuras; Los costos de recolección manual son un gasto importante en las operaciones de arándanos. Aunque las cosechadoras mecánicas requieren una cantidad significativa de capital, la inversión es rentable a largo plazo para la mayoría de los productores. Es importante tener en cuenta que no todas las variedades de arándanos son aptas para la cosecha mecánica. En Georgia, la mayoría de las variedades de ojo de conejo se cosechan a máquina, especialmente para el mercado procesado. Los arándanos son un producto altamente perecedero y su vida útil a menudo está limitada por altas tasas de respiración, ablandamiento, pérdida de agua, pérdida de sabor, daños mecánicos y descomposición. Por ello, reducir la temperatura de la fruta nada más ser cosechada es crucial. [This publication is the Spanish-language version of C 1269, Blueberry Harvesting and Postharvest Handling]
|