Rain fell across much of the state due to a recent cold front, but we are still far below normal for the year. While peach crops are generally looking good across the state, apple flowering is variable. In most places flowering has been heavy, but with some varieties the crop is light due to the frost a couple of weeks ago. Apple fruit size ranges from about 6 mm in northern parts of the state, about 10 mm here in Lafayette and about 13 mm in the south. Strawberries are finishing bloom south and just starting bloom north.
Blueberries are in full bloom in the major production areas.
Brambles are blooming in the south. Sorry, I just got carried away with that wonderful mental image of diseases. Obviously, if we have no early season disease buildup, we are less likely to have late season disease outbreaks. Also, as leaf, stem and fruit tissue mature they become much less susceptible to the disease pathogens. If conditions do stay dry this is definitely a year where you can streeetch the time between sprays, however, don t get too carried away with the amount of stretching you do, sooty blotch and flyspeck can do very well with just summer rains and morning dews.