Weather

Monday September 28

 No question that the need for rain will be the lead story for

 the entire west coast this fall.  However, the critical nature of 

what all of us face should the drought hold through this fall/

winter cannot be easily dismissed.  So, the generally DRY 

outlook for the first half of October is concerning.

Ridge of high pressure will be dominating the wx pattern 

for the next 2-3 weeks. The models have shifted back and 

forth a bit, but the overall trend has continued to keep that 

pesky blocking ridge positioned just right to hold off rain relief 

for the PNW. A weak low may bring clouds/showers over the 

far edge of eastern OR and ID later this week. Temps are likely 

to warm considerably by the coming weekend, as heat from CA 

builds north - potentially all the way up into Vancouver Is.

Bottom line: we will lack for rain during the next 14 days; 

temps will be on the warmer side of hoping-this-drought-ends.

-Rufus

Insecgt update

Insect update:  Bertha armyworm moths
variegated cutworm moths - populations in
 the high numbers.

Website:  http://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/content/vegnet-regional-pest-trends-week-september-21st-2015

More critters

The 12 spot cucumber beetle is showing increased numbers this week.

The full report:

http://aptgroup.hort.oregonstate.edu/content/vegnet-regional-pest-trends-week-september-14th-2015

This week in Paradise

Fall-ish weather continues for the next while.  Wet,
with cooler temperatures.  The cool nights are good
for the red delicious apples.  A LITTLE rain during
hazelnut harvest is good to settle the dust but there has
been quite a bit of rain.  Not good for orchards on hills.

Crops of apples, winter pears still happening.

Lots of slow ripening tomatoes.

Good winter squash - but again a very powdery mildew
fall.

Grapes - wine and table being harvested.  Powdery mildew
 here and there.

A LOT of water stressed trees in the valley, so the rain is needed
for any crops and vegetation.

What is happening

The weather has recently gotten very cool.  I was outside at midnight and the breeze was very chilly for mid September.  Good for the apples and pears and not so good for the warm season veggies and crops.  The weather predicted a bit damp for Wednesday - at least it was suppose to be wet - not yet.  The rest of the weeks looks dry and getting a tad bit warmer.  Highs - 65 to 79 during the day.  During the night - a chilly 47-54.  With temps below 60 degrees the warm season veggies start to slow down.  The cool and the wet = tomato and potato blight.  Keep these plant well aerated, covered from the damp and/or use a copper spray to keep the blight down.  No late blight has been found yet.  Most crops are winding down.

This week

This week we are having good weather, warm days (78-85 degrees)
and semi cool nights (48-59), which is great for ripening
apples and pears.

Apples are pletniful in the market.
Summer pears - nearing end.
Asian pears - full harvest.
Peaches  - some late peaches are still availalbe.

Blueberries, raspberries, day neutral strawberries -
some but call the local farm stands first and ask.

Table grapes have been harvesting for a month now.
I hear of people harvesting wine grapes.

Hazelnut harvest is getting ready or if early sites, are harvesting
nuts already.

Veggies - still growing well, but this year veggies seem to
be slow at ripening - the extra hot weather.