When Richard Smith tells you that he is impressed with efficacy of an organic herbicide you better take notice. Richard shared his results on this blog site last year and showed good weed control with 'Suppress' from Westbridge. This OMRI approved herbicide is a mix of caprylic and capric acids and is a contact material that interferes with plant cells membranes causing leakage and desiccation.

It looked like a good fit for organic plasticulture systems such as strawberry that have wet weedy furrows which are difficult to access with mechanical tools because of proximity to plastic. We placed a trial in a very weedy field that also had one of the SoCal classics–yellow nutsedge. 'Suppress' at 6 and 9% by volume was applied to well-established weeds just before strawberry planting.

The effects of application were noticeable in minutes. We learned that:

• Both 6 and 9% rates provided nearly 100% control of common lambsquarter (predominant species) and other occasional broadleaved weeds.

• About 10-15% of common purslane plants survived and yellow nutsedge seemed unaffected by application. However, biomass of both purslane and nutsedge were significantly reduced, suggesting that production of seed and tubers for the two weed species, respectively, may be delayed.

• Good coverage was important and some of the horizontally–inclined leaves of broadleaf weeds likely intercepted the herbicide deposition to vertically inclined nutsedge shoots.

• When we simulated drift by over-spraying strawberry, it responded just like any broadleaf perennial plant—the canopy wilted and dried but in 3 weeks the new leaves developed from the crown. This was also true for the neighboring bindweed that lost above ground canopy but had new growth within a month after 'Suppress' application.

• Since perennial weeds or those in soil seedbank are not controlled, repeated applications are needed with obvious caution of avoiding the spray drift to the crop.

Arpaia M.L.; Kahn T.L.; El Otmani M.; Coggins C.W.Jr; Demason D.A.; O'connell N.V.; Pehrson J.E.Jr, 1991: Pre harvest rind stain of valencia orange histochemical and developmental characterization. Scientia Horticulturae (amsterdam). 46(3-4): 261-274

Pre-harvest rindstain of California [USA] cultivar 'Valencia' orange Citrus sinensis has economic significance since fresh fruit marketability is reduced. Quantification of the incidence of rindstain as related to tree quadrant has allowed us to designate quadrants where rindstain was most likely to occur (upper outside SW) or least likely (lower inside NE) to occur. Growth and development characteristics of fruit from the two quadrants were measured throughout fruit development. Significant differences in percent weight loss between fruit from the SW and NE quadrants occurred at color break and at commercial maturity. Structural and histochemical changes in flavedo tissue of fruit from SW or NE tree quadrants were monitored over the course of fruit development and maturation. First evidence of periderm formation occurred in October, coincident with observed changes in histochemical staining for lipids. These differences were increasingly evident as the fruit approached horticultural maturity and visual symptoms of rindstain developed. The development of a pronounced periderm in affected fruit suggests that rindstain is due to a physical trauma, although we do not believe it is caused by wind.

This from Mary Lu Arpaia in response from a Central Valley problem that cropped up recently.  Fruit looked on the tree, but after getting it into the packing house, it started showing these symptoms

 Here is her summation of the abstract above:

1)      Fruit were predisposed to this problem as early as colorbreak.  We found this out by doing some elaborate fruit        manipulations in the field in the fall and looking at symptoms in the spring.

2)      Symptoms really started to appear about this time of year and then progressively worse 

3)      There was a loose correlation to presence of citrus thrips in the previous year

4)      Fruit isolations did not find much of anything but weak saprophytic fungi.  

5)      At this point, it's not clear what a grower can do to prevent it.  

Rindstain on Ruby Red Grapefruit in the Hemet area was noted in the 1990's and the observation there was possible moisture from dew or rain focusing sunlight to cause the condition.  So it's not really from even a general observation.

Why eat terrible fruit when you can eat wonderful California fruit, or should be able to?  All too often fruit which is shipped for several weeks from far off groves arrives distressed and put into cold storage here and then this is mishandled at the retailer. What the consumer ends up with is postharvest damage.  Fruit that has been held too long in cold storage at the wrong temperature and you get fruit like that pictured below.  Barely edible if you eat around the black stuff.  

In January, I bought a bag of 4 fruit from the local store.  When it had ripened, I cut open all 4 fruit and saw cold damage.  I took them back to the store and they gave me another bag.  When ripe, I cut them open and found the same damage.  Took them back and they gave me another bag.  Same thing.  Took them back and asked for my money back.  The produce manager said I was the only one to complain.  It's a good store to back their product, but I wonder if they ever complained to their supplier.  And what about the other buyers?

California can grow great fruit year-round.  Some of it could be the old 'Fuerte' which is a great eating winter fruit or a 'Reed' or 'Nabal' in the summer.  And some people just really like 'Zutano' or 'Bacon'. We all don't like the same taste. Add some variety to life.  I was reminded of this the other day when I went to look at a recently planted 'Reed' orchard.  When asked why, the grower said she loved the fruit and had a buyer for all her fruit.  That's what it takes when you don't grow 'Hass', finding the market for some of these unusual varieties.  Or find a packer that will take a chance on your fruit.  

There's been a call for a long time on the part of growers to sell their greenskins, but the consumer needs to be taught what a good piece of fruit taste like at the right time of year.  There have been lots of advocates for variety for a long time, and now that consumers have turned into 'foodies' it's time to feed them. They don't want to go to the store and buy a bad piece of fruit.  And then throw it out.  Instead they should go back to the store and demand a good piece of fruit.

End of rant.

ATTENTION:  All Cherimoya Producers (and friends),

"Deliciousness itself", Mark Twain

The California Cherimoya Association is sponsoring a knowledge sharing meeting.

Time:  Saturday, March 12, 2016, 12:00 to 2 p.m.

Place:  California Tropics Packinghouse

           6950 Casitas Pass Rd. (Highway 192)

           Carpinteria, California

Topics:  Pollination and fruit set

            Marketing

            Ant (and other pest) control

            Other commercial production interests

Cost:  No charge but reservations are appreciated.  Bring your own lunch.

For more information contact:  Scott Van Der Kar,   ranch.public@cox.net or (805) 684-7900 

Please pass this invitation on to others who may be interested