February | 2017 | Thomas County Ag
UGA Extension Pecan Specialist Dr. Lenny Wells has an update on pecans:
Nursery tree leafing out on 2/21/17 – Photo by Dr. Lenny Wells
In general, pecans don’t need a lot of chill hours. At the southern end of its range in Mexico, you can have trees that receive less than 100 chill hours, and still produce nuts. The actual chilling requirement for pecans also varies with fall temperatures. If trees are exposed to cooler fall temps (less than 34 degrees F) the intensity of the bud’s rest is greater and the number of chill hours required for budbreak increases. But, the colder the winter, the fewer the heat units in spring required to start budbreak. Heat units in spring strongly influence budbreak and drive the progression of the crop’s maturity. So, with a cold winter and warm spring you can actually get a pretty early budbreak.
Citrus Grower’s Association Meeting – Feb 27
Mrs. Lindy Sevell, President of the Georgia Citrus Growers Association, is planning the associations first citrus meeting. If you are interested, here is some information below:
Date: The Georgia Citrus Association is planning its first annual meeting for February 27th.
Location: UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, 15 RDC Road
Dr. Wayne Hanna – new UGA releases
Travis Murphy- Diversity of Crops
Robert Sexton- packing of fruit
Seald Sweet International – marketing & sales
Mack Glass – practical experience of growing
Chris Anglin – possible crop insurance
UGA Grove
Tangerine/Lemon/Grapefruit Grove with Perennial Peanut Middles
To register for this meeting use the link below. The cost is $15.00 per person. If you wish to join the citrus association at the same time it will be $65.00. Lunch is included. Registration closes February 20th.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/georgia-citrus-association-annual-meeting-tickets-31756818499
Filed under Citrus
Early Weed Control In Satsuma’s
UGA Extension Agent in Lowndes County, Jake Price, has this update on weed control:
The warm weather we have been experiencing is unbelievable. Usually we can depend on Jan and Feb for some cold temperatures. With these temps trees may be waking up early which is not good especially if we have a late hard freeze. Time to apply the first application of fertilizer is approaching as well (late Feb to early March). Also if you plan to use a preemergent herbicide, it will be wise to put that out very soon. Attached is the fertility recommendation for satsumas from Auburn University and a fact sheet on herbicides and leaf miners.
If you have been using the same herbicides/pesticides over and over, it will be smart to rotate other materials that are not in the same class. There are a couple of miticides that will also have efficacy on citrus leaf miners, (Ari-Mek and Micromite). Citrus leaf miners have not been damaging our first flush of new foliage so wait until after bloom to apply any insecticides. This will also be a more “bee friendly time to apply your pesticides”. This is usually around the first of May.
These herbicides should be applied to a fairly clean soil surface prior to emergence of weeds. In Georgia/North Florida late winter is a good time for the first application. At least two applications are needed per year. Common practice in Florida groves is to not use pre-emergence herbicides on newly planted trees although several herbicide labels below allow for their use.
These herbicides are either systemic or contact herbicides. Systemic herbicides are translocated throughout the plant while contact herbicides kill plant parts in which they touch. Drift from systemic herbicides will likely cause more damage to trees.
The use of landscape fabrics around trees can help eliminate weeds. Also, the use of BH-10 (both hands, 10 fingers) can be used around trunks of small trees where cultivation or landscape fabrics are not applied. Cultivation or tillage can be used but at the risk of damaging fibrous root which can lead to invasion of pathogens or insects.
For more information, UF has a publication on 2015 Citrus Pest Management – Weeds.
Filed under Citrus, Weed Science