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Orchardists worry about another killer freeze

BY SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE SOUTHERN

Thursday, February 7, 2008 9:55 AM CST

MOUNT VERNON - It's too early to tell, but weather patterns are worrying apple and peach growers like Gary Grammer of Murphysboro.

"I don't like this 'real warm and then it gets real cold' type weather," Grammer said Wednesday as he joined about 60 growers from Southern Illinois. They were gathered at the Mount Vernon Holiday Inn for the annual Southern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit Grower School.

Grammer said it's too early to push the panic button, but the sudden climate swings are reminiscent of 2007.

About a year ago, many area growers were devastated by warm balmy temperatures throughout early spring, causing apple and peach trees to bloom earlier than usual, only to be wiped out by freezing temperatures in early April that destroyed most of those fruit crops.

One of the area growers was Sara Lipe, who had just taken over her family's 100-acre farm from her parents.

"It was a rough introduction to the business," said Lipe, who is managing Lipe Orchards between Carbondale and Makanda.

Extension specialist Mohammad Babadoost advised apple growers to take action to protect younger trees damaged by last year's freeze from bacteria.

"Last year, we had no bloom. This year, we are going to have bloom. You need to spray," said Babadoost, who is an associate professor at University of Illinois Champaign.

Babadoost detailed how identifying and treating common apple diseases, such as scab, fire blight, powdery mildew and cedar-apple rust, during the early spring can help.

Fire blight is an infection thriving in temperatures above 60 degrees and moist air that travels through a natural opening on the tree.

Besides applying chemical agents to treat fire blight, good pruning also helps contain its spread, Babadoost said.

Lipe said she attended Wednesday's school to learn more about chemically thinning her trees.

"I learned it's a short-term solution for the 2008 crop and a long-term solution over time," Lipe said.

Lipe said one message that stood out after hearing a presentation from district horticulturalist Phil Schwallier was to be diligent on thinning.

Schwallier said thinning ideally should begin in cooler weather just before the onset of forecasted warming trends.

Many area growers have been doing just that over the past several weeks.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076