While fruit rots have a variety of causes, the most common fungal fruit rot of apple in Kentucky is bitter rot. The disease results in rotten, inedible fruit. Fungicides are available for management; however, sanitation is critical for disease prevention.…

In Kentucky, pest management in home orchards can be challenging, and fungicide and insecticide applications are often necessary for management of certain pests. Fruit bagging, however, can eliminate certain sprays by physically protecting fruit during development.  This method can be…

Kentucky fruit growers can subscribe to crop-specific e-mail listservs in order to receive up-to-date information and important alerts from University of Kentucky Extension Specialists. Separate listservs are available for: Contact Kim Leonberger (kimberly.leonberger@uky.edu) or Delia Scott (delia.scott@uky.edu) to be added…

Fire blight is an important disease of apple, crabapple, pear, and flowering pear in Kentucky. Symptoms are often not observed until late spring or early summer; however, initial infections occur at bloom. The pathogen survives winter in dead, dying, and…

Black rot is a common disease of grapes in Kentucky. Due to the prevalence of this disease, it is also one of the most economically important diseases of grapes.  Black rot can affect all young, developing, above ground plant tissues.…

Apple trees are at bloom or nearing completion of bloom across Kentucky. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high.  Risk for infection can be assessed using the Fire…

Apple scab is the most consistently serious disease of homegrown apple and flowering crabapple in Kentucky. The most noticeable losses on apple result from reduced fruit quality and from premature drop of infected fruit. Scab also causes a general weakening…

There are several insect and insect-related early-season pests of strawberry that need to be monitored and at times controlled to prevent losses. This includes spider mites, tarnished plant bug, spittlebug, spotted wing drosophila, sap beetles, and slugs. While spotted wing…

Apple trees are at bloom and pear bloom is nearing completion across Kentucky. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high.  Risk for infection can be assessed using the…

Cane blight occasionally impacts homegrown and commercial raspberries and blackberries in Kentucky. The disease causes lesions to develop on both primocanes (current-year canes) and floricanes (second-year or fruiting canes) and can result in reduced yield and cane death. Fungicides are…

Apple and pear trees are at or approaching bloom. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high.  Risk for infection can be assessed using the Fire Blight Disease Prediction…

Black knot is a common, often serious, disease of plums and cherries in Kentucky. Trees in both commercial and residential plantings are susceptible to the disease. Black knot results in knotty growths that, over time, girdle limbs and cause branch…

Apple and pear trees are at or approaching bloom. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high.  Risk for infection can be assessed using the Fire Blight Disease Prediction…

Brown rot of peach is known for soft, rotted fruit covered with masses of fungal spores. However, management of this disease begins at petal fall. Early season management can reduce initial sources of the fungus as it emerges from dormancy,…