Black Knot is a common fungal disease that affects different species of Prunus, such as cherry, peach, and plums. This type of fungus spreads mainly by spores carried on the wind in spring to infect new trees, however, the galls or knotty growths are not noticeable until late summer or even fall, after trees have lost their leaves. Now is the time to develop a prevention plan. What Is Black Knot Fungus Apiosporina morbosa is the responsible pathogen for the disease called Black Knot, which creates symptoms of black, knotty growths or galls that form on twigs, limbs, and sometimes […]
Category: Fruit
Create A Mardi Gras Themed Garden
American Mardi Gras first began around 1699 near New Orleans by a French-Canadian explorer named Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville. Although Mardi Gras can be traced back as far as the 17th century in Europe. While it started off with religious practices, it has since become more of a general celebration. Mardi Gras Day is filled with music, parades with floats, parties, and food. Mardi Gras is well known for the colors associated with this celebration – green, purple, and gold. The history behind the colors is a fascinating one dating back to 1872 when the King of the Carnival proclaimed […]
7 Heart-Healthy Foods You Can Grow
February is the month of the heart. We celebrate the special people in our lives with Valentine’s Day. But did you know February is also heart health month? Starting in 1963, heart health month focuses on creating awareness and education of cardiovascular health. One way to improve your heart health is to eat heart-healthy foods. Here are the top seven foods you can grow that are great for your heart. Almonds & Walnuts Almonds and walnuts are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals critical for heart health. They can reduce bad cholesterol and reduce plaque buildup. Walnuts have more antioxidants […]
How To Manage Common Watermelon Fungal & Bacterial Diseases
Watermelon and other cucurbit plants can become infected with numerous, common fungal and bacterial pathogens. Many have similar but observably different symptoms. This article is a quick and helpful guide toward possible identification and diagnosis. Do The Diseases Come From The Watermelon Seed? Some of these pathogens can be seed-borne and although at Jung Seed Company we procure all our seeds from reputable sources, and rigorously test for germination standards many pathogens such as Bacterial Fruit Blotch, may be present on a seed coat without our knowledge. This is true for any seed you may purchase. So, no matter where […]
An Easy Guide To Fertilizing Blueberry Plants
Fertilizing is one of the requirements your blueberry plant needs to stay healthy and produce delicious fruit. However, there are some guidelines you should follow when applying fertilizers. Here are some of our top tips for fertilizing your blueberry bushes. Types of Fertilizers Proper fertilization of blueberries is just as important as providing them with the proper soil pH. Since blueberries thrive in low soil pH (4.5 – 5.5), it is recommended to choose an acidic, water-soluble fertilizer, similar to what you would feed Azaleas and Rhododendrons like Jack’s Classic® Acid Special with 17-6-6 formulation, or you can utilize Espoma® […]
Black Rot On Grapes: Prevention & Management
Black Rot, the most widespread disease of grapes, often causes grapes to turn brown and shrivel. It is extremely difficult to control and is the number one enemy of commercial growers and home gardeners alike. This article will help guide you to identifying, preventing, and management of Black Rot on grapes. What Is Black Rot? Black Rot is the most common fungal disease grapes can get. It is caused by the fungus Guignarida bidwellii. It is a cumulative disease, meaning it builds up for multiple seasons and can very often spread, undetected by many growers until it is a major […]
Top Tips For Fruit Trees: Planting, Caring, & Maintenance
A home orchard is a valuable investment, but without proper care, it can be disappointing and unproductive. Our long experience has proven that success can be assured if good management practices are followed. The information provided in this guide can be applied to most fruit trees. Planting, training, pruning, fertilizing, and spraying are about the same for apples, pears, plums, and peaches. Exceptions are noted. Our fruit trees are held in a special cold storage environment to maintain dormant, live, high-quality trees. Proper care of trees before planting, attention to detail in planting, timely applications of water, and proper pruning […]
4 Popular Wine Grapes For Hobby Vineyards
Creating a hobby vineyard is a valiant objective indeed. Growing grapes is not for the weak of heart when it comes to horticultural or agricultural endeavors. The cultural care and vineyard setup will generally be the same for all these types. Brianna Brianna is a medium-sized grape with a thick skin of green-colored fruits that turn to gold when fully ripe. This is becoming a popular variety for growers in the upper Midwest. Brianna berries can be made into a semi-sweet white wine that is said to possess fruity notes of pineapple, banana, and mango. They are also considered a […]
An Easy Guide To Fruit Tree Rootstocks
Fruit trees take care and patience while waiting for the tree to produce fruit. It can take years before the fruit of your loving labor will appear. The first step is choosing quality fruit tree rootstock. But what is rootstock? Read our easy guide to fruit tree rootstocks to get you started. What Are Rootstocks? Rootstocks are the base and roots of grafted fruit trees. Nearly all productive fruiting type trees are grafted, with the scion (the top fruiting portion) being different from the rootstock (trunk or root material a bud or scion is grafted onto). Although there are some […]
Honeyberry: The Edible Blue Honeysuckle
What we call Honeyberries are actually a type of fruiting Honeysuckle – Lonicera caerulea, some of which are native to our Pacific Northwest. Haskaps, as they are also called, is the name used by the native Ainu people of the northern islands of Japan, where other subspecies also grow. Their word for them, “Haskaps” translates to “Edible Blue Honeysuckle”. Pretty simple and descriptively accurate. These shrubby fruit-forming honeysuckles are an exciting new option for home gardeners and farm-stand growers. Honeyberries are tough, cold-hardy plants that produce loads of soft, sweet blue elongated berries that can be used and eaten just […]