Protecting Apples in Extreme Heat

The surface of an apple can be 20-30 degrees hotter than the air temperature outside according to WSU Tree Fruit Extension Specialist Rob Blakey, so what to do when the air temp is in triple-digits?

“Make sure your evaporative cooling is working well and you’ve got your cycles dialed in nicely so that there’s little chance of some sunburn happening in the off cycles because you can get sunburn in as little as 10 minutes if the temperatures are getting particularly high.”

Also, make sure to keep on top of your protective sprays.

WSU has launched a tool to help growers called the Decision Aid System. You can find it on TreeFruit.WSU.edu. It helps by forecasting the temperature in your valley and providing recommendations for avoiding sunburn.

Blakey noted, “There are weather stations close to your farm which you can you use to tailor your responses and give you, for sunburn browning at least, a seven-day prediction of what you should be anticipating going forward. If there’s a high, medium or low risk for sunburn.”

Blakey said that leaves are good at disappating heat, but fruit is not and that can used to the grower’s advantage for dealing with lots of sun and heat.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.