Don is joined by Kari and Shan this week to discuss what happens what a spring freeze doesn’t just “nip” buds. Shan highlights what to do after the frost: how to sample across a block, cut buds to spot real freeze damage in the reproductive tissue.

Kari gives an early fire blight heads-up as warm weather accelerates bloom, plus a smart “minimal spray program” mindset for blocks that lost fruit to winter injury.

Frost Protection Strategies: https://extension.psu.edu/frost-critical-temperatures-and-frost-protection

Critical Temperatures: https://extension.psu.edu/orchard-frost-critical-temperatures-for-various-fruits

Host: Don Seifrit
Speakers: Kari Peter, Shan Kumar

Photo Credit: Faith Miller

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

This bonus episode is to highlight another fruit podcast focused on horticulture/phenology/physiology topics from Extension professionals and researchers around the country. It's hosted by Don and includes personnel from Cornell, Michigan State, University of Maine, and Washington State. Go follow them on their feed!

For more information, visit https://sparcscri.com/

This work is/was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture - Specialty Crop Research Initiative project "Preparing U.S. Pome Fruit Production for Extreme Temperatures in a Changing Climate" (2024-51181-43289; Accession #1032988)

Host: Don Seifrit

Speakers: Emily Lavely, Mike Basedow, Renae Moran, Lee Kalcsits

Music Credit: “Four Seasons - Spring Mvt1” by John Harrison with the Wichita State University Chamber Players is licensed under a Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Don, Kari, Shan, and Greg highlight the very first stages of spring as green tip begins to emerge around the state in apples.

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Don, Kari, Greg, and Shan dig into stone fruit losses and disease timing as a warm spell pushes early peaches toward bud swell. We outline what early scouting actually tells you and how to get ready for oriental fruit moth and codling moth.

If this helped sharpen your spring plan, follow the show, share it with a grower who needs timely cues, and leave a quick review so more orchards can find us.

Soil Fumigation: https://extension.psu.edu/fumigation-and-other-strategies-to-control-soil-pests

Heat School: https://sparcscri.com/event/wsu-tree-fruit-heat-school/

Photo Credit: Don Seifrit, Penn State

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

We welcome our new pomologist, Dr. Sara Serra, and dig into how pruning, harvest timing, and vision tech can raise fruit quality across apples, pears and peaches.

The Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention begins Jan 27. Registration available on site. Winter Fruit Schools run Feb 10–19 across regions.

Photo Credit: Dr. Rob Crassweller, Penn State

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Don, Kari, Shan, and Greg unpack the season’s rollercoaster: a soggy May that drove scab, rust, and bitter rot risk, followed by a dry, color‑rich harvest window. We lay out infection windows, what worked for Honeycrisp, why alternate row coverage backfired, and how to prep smarter for next season.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Brown, Penn State

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Kari, Greg, Shan and Don share a fast, practical harvest update focusing on EverCrisp and Fuji maturing ahead of color and what that means for storage. We also cover late pest pressure, storage rot prevention, and label uncertainty.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Brown, Penn State

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Don, Kari, Shan and Greg highlight disease and insect pressure to watch out for during a critical period to harvest some important Pennsylvania varieties. Keep an eye out for Shan and the crew's harvest maturity assessments weekly on Tuesdays.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Brown, Penn State

Music Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org

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Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season