Rain & Humidity -- Not Great For Wisconsin Fruit

The UW Fruit Team is getting more calls and emails this year than they did last year, and that’s because of how much rain we’ve been getting in comparison to last year’s drought. Wisconsin apples, grapes, strawberries, and cherries run into disease issues with moisture and humidity. Plant pathologist Leslie Holland with UW Extension says some apple and cherry growers are experiencing powdery mildew -- causes a white or gray, powdery growth on the leaves, stems, and flowers.

Apple scab also loves rain. This spring, powdery mildew and apple scab are occurring in the same year in orchards. This is unusual. Holland says it’s likely due to the mild winter because the fungus didn’t die off.

She reminds commercial growers and gardeners to apply fungicides as soon as possible. If you can knock down the fungus early on, it’ll be less of a problem closer to harvest.

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