Monthly Archives: May 2021

Lifetime and longtime STFS member Marilyn T. reported this past Friday (5/21/21) a total of 10 adult codling moths caught already during 2021 in a trap located near the Seward Park area of South Seattle. Reminder: adult codling moths lay eggs on or around pome fruit trees; larvae emerging from these eggs chew into developing fruit leaving behind a dark brown excrement-filled path and core. Yuck.

Always thorough and thoughtful towards amateurs, Marilyn took the time to type out that several nearby (Woodinville and Puyallup) WSU AgWeatherNet weather stations had recorded by last Friday “growing degree day (°F) accumulation base temp 50 °F” or “DD base 50” data of slightly less than 175.

175 is the DD base 50 threshold for first emergence of codling moth and was established from WSU research published in Orchard Pest Management. Marilyn mentions that this threshold is based on observations made in central WA, but also appears to be an accurate predictor in western WA.

In short, Marilyn has observed adult codling moth flying already in Seattle, and nearby WSU weather data coupled with pest management protocols predict codling moth first generation emergence as of now in and around King County. So…

Whatever your strategy to protect your pome fruitlets from codling moth, you should implement it now right after thinning fruitlets to one and only one per cluster.

Click on link Pome Thinning and Barrier Protection for pages from recent STFS newsletter covering pome thinning, codling moth, apple maggot and barrier protection options.

Click on link Extreme Maggot Barriers for ordering information on these nylon footies sold by STFS. STFS will have Extreme Maggot Barriers for sale with no shipping costs on Saturday June 5^th 10 AM to noon at STFS demonstration orchard in NE Seattle’s Magnuson Park.

Barrier netting is also available to STFS members but must be pre-ordered. See Pome Thinning … link above for details.

To lessen COVID-19 spread, the Seattle Tree Fruit Society meeting Saturday May 15^th 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM is only online.The meeting will begin with a brief business meeting, followed by a presentation by author Ann Ralph.

Why Little? Grow A Little Fruit Tree offers a revolutionary vision for backyard fruit trees: a simple and ingenious technique that uses timed pruning to keep fruit trees as short as six feet tall… …they are easy to care for and produce fruit in quantities we’re likely to be able to use. Small trees create the opportunity to have more trees in the backyard and to plant different varieties of fruit to ripen all summer, through fall, and even into winter.

Timed pruning offers a revolutionary approach to fruit tree care, winter prune for shape and summer prune to keep trees small and easy. This presentation covers fruit tree basics: the simple logic of pruning, how to prune for short stature and easy harvest, early training, seasonal routines, and pest and disease control. You’ll learn about the benefits of small trees, getting started, pruning for aesthetics, and how to engage in the pleasures of the pruning conversation.

Ann Ralph is the author of Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees. Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling read for the backyard farmer.” She was the fruit tree specialist at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery and has 20 years of retail nursery experience. She promotes practical, artful, and commonsense methods for the garden generally and fruit trees in particular.

Goodie U, STFS Board Member, reminds everyone that the Ann Ralph zoom meeting will be recorded so attendees not wanting to be recorded should mute microphone and turn off their video. Goodie U made the upcoming Ann Ralph presentation happen. Thanks, Goodie.If you know any non-STFS individual interested in attending this zoom meeting, please forward this zoom invite so more can benefit from Ann’s presentation.

Zoom invite info

The most recent version of free Zoom software can be downloaded onto your computer from https://zoom.us/download. Zoom Client for Meetings probably will work best.

Mike Ewanciw is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Seattle Tree Fruit Society meeting & Presentation

Time: May 15, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 838 8438 6229

Passcode: 003071

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