Strawberry and cherry people - the spotted
wing drosophila (SWD) - that insect that gets
into the fruit and shortens it life significantly
was caught in the Rive Road area.
Soooooooooooooo, as the weather warms up
(as predicted by the weather people) , the
 number of SWD will probably increase rather
quickly.  For trap and spray information,
go to:  OSU SWD.

For people selling the fruit, clients usually don't
like critters in the berry or fruit.  HOWEVER
for the home owners, as we look at more
sustainability, the SWD  is really only added protein. 

Be aware, many of the warm seasoned
veggies in the stores are suffering from
the cold weather.  I saw several stores
today that had squash, pepper that the
 new growth was yellow.  Soil is just too
 cold to grow properly.

Soil planting will help but warmer soils
 is the key, or put water jugs, walls of
water or Remay cloth over the warm
season plants.

Be aware, there is powdery mildew
on zucchini already.

Strawberry season in the Willamette valley -
berries are ripe so don't delay in
getting your berries.

Another great weekend for growing a garden.
Keep planting of transplants.  Warm seeds
are still slow on germinating.

Continue to thin peaches, pears, apples.  Rain
this last weeks contines to spread the apple and
 pear scab, PLUS massive spread of coastal
cedar rust on apples, pears, service berry,
quince and NOT wild rose severely infested.

Slugs and snails bad in some areas.

Look for Spotted Wing Drosophila as the
berry crops continues. Call the Extension
office is you find SWD  541 344-5859.  
Rain will soften the strawberry crop and
also cause gray mold.

Rain most of the week.
Didn't have to irrigate as soil WAS
getting very dry on the top 1-2 inches.

Strawberry season started 6 days ago.  Strawberries
have been ripe in the home garden areas for a week. 
Blueberries sizing a head of schedule.  Raspberry,
blackberries all blooming at almost the same time, and early.

Anticipate huge spotted wing drosophila (SWD)
with the early spring.  Please call your local
 Extension office IF you find SWD.  Go to: 
OSU SWD for more information and
latest developments.

Coastal cedar rust hammering apples, pears, quince,
service berries, Mt. Ash plants, even more than
last year.  There are some commercial sprays that
will help keep the fungus under control.  Nothing
for the home gardener other than pick off fruit and leaves.

Most fruit crop yields - look OK.    Most look like
 a reduced yield, except for some areas.

Warm season veggies, still slow at growing.

Patience,as it is ONLY May 24 but panic as it
 is May 23 and strawberries are ripe and other
berries are developing ahead of normal.

Strawberries ripe - May 20. 
Typically 10-15 days early.

Lots of leaf rollers in hazelnuts
and apples - use Bt.

Some warm season seeds
slow at emerging.

Continue to thin apples, peaches
and pears.

Good weekend for planting.
Lots of plant sales gong on.
Plant away.

Observations:
Gravenstein apple - full crop
Red delicious - full crop
Jonagold - good crop

Pears - coastal cedar rust so about 50%.

Prunes - very few.

Berries - coming on strong.
Strawberries - first ripe ones.
Blueberries - medium size and green.

Brasscicas - going to seed and bolting
from last year.
More reports of grape powdery mildew
and the erinium mite which causes
the leaves to crinkle.

Soil moisture still low.

Voles - field ice gaining in numbers.
Seeing drought stress on many
trees already.

Rain, rain, rain.
We had a big apple and scab infection
yesterday and today. 

Protect apples as soon as possible.

Rain will slow the codling moth emergence.

Lawn still growing very quickly.

Lesser celandine very prolific this year.ts.
Reports of leaf minor from Cottage Grove,
Springfield, Eugene,Corvallis and affecting
a lot of the leafy plants.

Chard and leafy plants are getting leaf
miners ALREADY.

Cover with Remay or other row covers.

Lawn grass is still growing crazy.  don't
wait tooo long to get it mowed.
Use a mulching mower to pulverize the lawn
particles, which are great for fertilizing the lawn.

Many Brassica plants are going to seed
already, especially cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi
from last year.

Valley  pollen and dirt in the air is high with
 the grass seed pollinating and the field hay
crop being harvested.

Continue to plant the garden.  It is the 12th, so
to just be safe, wait until May 15 to plant the
warm season veggies  (even tho I am sure many
people have already planted many warm
season plants

Great weather.
Need for irrigation will be
upon us soon us.
Tree fruits still looking good,
apples slow to grow.

June drop will be in about two more
weeks, but most apples, peaches and
pear will need thinning in a week. 
Thin Gravenstein apples soon as their
stems seem to be really short this year.

Garlic developing well.
Warm season crops - weather looks good but
watch the weather for freezing weather.

I am over in Bend today teaching berries crops.
Talk about a rather harsh environment
that they have over here.
Their last frosts can go into June OR LATER,
 then the first frost as early as the end of
August,  Some years 90 growing days
 and on a  good year 120 days.  So the
Willamette valley isn't the only place that there has
weird weather patterns.

I was looking at blueberry bushes that
had frost damage on the tips AND at the
base of the blueberry bushes;  a real burn affect.

We talked a lot about protecting the roots of
strawberries, raspberries and blueberries -
by putting down 4-7 inches of a good
clean hay.  Some winters have a long period
where the soil can freeze down 12 inches plus.

Another beautiful day.
Anyone with a greenhosue - water every
other day as plants and soil are really
drying out very quickly in the confined
spaces and with the extra heat.  Get the
shade cloth on the greenhouse or hoop
house ASAP.   Report from Scio, codling
moth on apples and pears;  are out with
the warm weather. Monitor to see if this
 is the initial emergence or a big flight. 
Time will tell.  Do NOT spray if temps are
above 80 degrees,.  Wait til cool evening
or morning temps.

Apples - continue to bloom.  Early
varieties done blooming.
Coastal cedar rust affecting
Bartlett pears.
Scab infection seems to be down.
EFB is down also due to drier spring.

Weather - cool to cold AMs still
a problem with warm seasoned vegetables.
Frost protection is needed.

Record high temps mean time for irrigation
is closer than previous years.

Peonies blooming a least a week
earlier than normal.
Some rhodies 10 days ahead of normal.

Bee population in many areas with
wild and planted flowering plants are above normal.

The more pollen flowers, the better
for bees and predatory insects.

More beautiful weather with mornings
of cold, frosty weather.
OK for cole crops of broccoli, cabbage,
cauliflower, peas, lettuce, radishes, kale,
garlic, celery and more.

Watch weather to avoid any frosty periods,
set up frost protection with sprinklers, use
Remay cover cloth, milk jugs, walls of water,
large blue water bottles, mini greenhouses of plastic.

Coastal cedar rust showing up on pears - look
for red spots on the leaves and on the fruit.  Nothing
can be done about this fungal disease.

Peonies full bloom, rhodies - full or near
full bloom;  wild dogwoods in white bloom glory.

Aphid pops low, lady bird beetle pops high.

Areas with wild and blooming flowers have
 large quantities of honey bees, bumbles, mason
bees, and a lot of the predatory insects.