Can fruit crops be grown in the home garden without pesticides? The answer is yes, but fruit quantity and quality may decrease, especially in years when environmental conditions encourage disease and/or insect proliferation. Quality fruit, similar to what is available in the supermarket, cannot easily be grown without pesticides. If you do not wish to use pesticides, you can employ many other t...

INTRODUCTION This guide for organic grape production is an outline of cultural and pest management practices and includes topics that have an impact on improving plant health and reducing pest problems. The guide is divided into sections, but the interrelated quality of organic cropping systems makes each section relevant to the others.  More research on growing perennial crops organically is n...

Weeds can compete with grapevines for water and nutrients resulting in reduced vine capacity. Chemical herbicides can be used to minimize weed competition in vineyards, but it is imperative that herbicide label restrictions and precautions be observed in order to avoid injury or damage to vines. Prevention is Better than Cure – Minimizing Herbicide Drift in the Vineyard describes the potential ...

Cornell University has compiled detailed information regarding a variety of vineyard pests including, Banded Grape Bug, Climbing Cutworm, Grape Berry Moth, Grape Cane Gallmaker, Grape Cane Girdler, Grape Flea Beetle, Grape Leafhopper, Grape Rootworm, Grape Rumid Gallmaker and Grape Cane Borer into individual factsheets. These factsheets outline the stages of development of the pest, the injury ...

Cornell Cooperative Extension links the research and extension efforts at Cornell University, the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, providing the knowledge to maximize New York State’s agricultural and natural resources.  Read more…

Using a Plant Diagnostic Lab The best way to identify insects, plants, and plant diseases, or to diagnose plant and pest problems, is to send a sample to a diagnostic laboratory. The National Plant Diagnostic Network website (www.npdn. org) lists diagnostic laboratories by state and region. Contact individual laboratories for specific submission and fee information (see pages 4-5). To ensure an...

Disease management strategies are very similar for both organic and conventional small fruit production systems in the Midwest. In both systems it is important to develop and use an integrated disease management program that integrates as many disease control methods as possible, the more the better. Major components of the disease management program include: use of specific cultural practices;...

Bud feeders Climbing cutworms is a general term applied to a large number of moth larvae that feed on grape buds. These night feeding larvae attack developing buds, young leaves, and shoots, devouring all of the tissue. Damage is usually spotty, although it can be serious.  Flea beetle adults (first generation) attack swelling buds usually at the very beginning of bud swell, earlier than cutwor...

Fruit trees around the house are damaged by a large number of different insects and diseases. You can control or prevent this damage by well-timed sprays applied properly to the trees. SPRAY MATERIALS – General purpose spray mixtures are available at your local supply store. These usually contain insecticides to control both insects and mites and fungicides to control a wide range of diseases. ...