University of Kentucky Fruit Extension

04/20/2026

Apple and pear trees are at bloom across the state. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high. Risk for infection…

04/07/2026

The University of Kentucky Extension team has put together numerous resources for commercial strawberry growers regarding production and pest management. The following details the resources provide…

04/03/2026

Sometimes damaged apple trees or certain varieties of apples will grow more horizontally instead of filling vertical space in a tall spindle system. To combat that issue, Dr. Brent Arnoldussen demonstrates a technique called whipping back to encourage vertical growth.

04/02/2026

An interesting article about the use of frost fans in Kentucky orchards. The article does get one thing wrong though, this is not the first wind machine in the state and this practice is a standard practice on several Kentucky orchards.

Eckert’s Orchard invests in frost fan as spring frosts threaten blooming plants: https://www.wkyt.com/2026/03/27/eckerts-orchard-invests-frost-fan-spring-frosts-threaten-blooming-plants/

03/31/2026

Just in time! The updated version of the midwest fruit management guides have just been posted. This is a comprehensive guide to managing fruit issues in our region.

From Main Street to the farm gate, the Purdue Extension Education Store connects all 92 Indiana counties to world-renowned research from Purdue University. The Purdue Extension Education Store, part of Purdue University's College of Agriculture, is a vita

03/31/2026

Despite the cold damage, our contender peach block is loaded with blossoms, and we are doing one final pruning in the peach block. With this we focus in shortening branches to keep the fruit close to the main leader and to cut back branches without fruit to encourage renewed fruiting wood for next year.

Using the extension poles for these electric pruning shears helps us clean up the tops of these tall V trained peach trees without a ladder.

03/27/2026

As we go into the weekend, some parts of Kentucky are predicted to drop into the low 30s/upper 20s again.

Read through our latest blog post to get a summary of last week's damage and what the forecast looks like the next two days.

https://fruit.mgcafe.uky.edu/blog-3-27-2026

03/26/2026

Check out a recent high density apple pruning demo from the recent Kentucky State Horticultural Society meeting at Reid's Orchard

2026 Kentucky State Horticulture Society hosted by Reid’s Orchard. Pruning demonstration of high-density apples by Dr. Brent Arnoldussen. Video & editing: El...

03/24/2026

Thanks to for hosting the 2026 KSHS meeting. It was a beautiful day to tour the property and practice pruning.

03/24/2026

Calculations for the application of fungicides and insecticides to commercial orchards are often complicated and can be downright confusing. While these mathematical exercises may leave many scratc…

03/21/2026

Dr. Brent Arnoldussen demonstrates how to assess bud damage after a spring frost.