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Hello everyone,

Just a reminder the annual Indiana Nut & Fruit Growers scion swap meeting 
is this Sunday, March 25. For details:

http://nutgrowers.org/news.htm

Jerry
>From quirky@videotron.ca  Sat Mar 24 11:03:12 2012
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Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:03:07 -0400
From: Caren Kirk <quirky@videotron.ca>
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Subject: Re: [nafex] Apricot Protection
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  Thanks Dan, very interesting. As this is my first year with the 
apricot I think I am just going to play it by ear and see how it goes. 
Everything is up in the air with this yo-yo weather anyway.

I might see about getting some of the product for next year.

Caren Kirk
St. Jerome, QC

On 3/22/2012 11:15 PM, Dan Nave wrote:
> In the NAFEX Apricot Interest Group newsletters, Bob Purvis has written 
> about a product that has the
> ability to give some protection to apricot blossoms and immature fruit. I 
> have taken the liberty of
> excerpting some of this for the group.  See below.
>
> Dan
>
>
> NAFEX APRICOT INTEREST GROUP** November 10, 2005   Newsletter #8
>
> *
> Agro-K products show promise in frost control.*Agro-K is a 
> Minneapolis-based corporation that
> manufactures a number of different foliar and soil nutrient products for 
> use by fruit and vegetable
> growers.Agro-K had a growers' meeting in March 2005 which I found valuable 
> in terms of acquiring
> information useful to my orchard.There were a number of both conventional 
> and organic fruit and
> vegetable growers present who have been using their products.Given the 
> difficulty that apricot
> growers face with late frosts, I was pleased to find that they have one 
> product that has shown value
> in protecting blossoms from frost:KDL (abbreviation for Potassium (chemical 
> symbol is K)
> Dextro-Lac), makeup is 0-0-24.Agro-K potassium products are derived from 
> potassium carbonate and in
> one case, from potassium sulfate.The manufacturing process combines 
> potassium with sugars (dextrose,
> lactose) and other carbohydrate molecules to make a product that is quickly 
> absorbed, readily
> available, and easily utilized by the plant.The brochure also states that 
> "KDL contains a unique
> activating component designed to enhance the mobilization of potassium 
> within the plant."
>
> The brochure describing KDL's effects on frost protection states the 
> following:
>
> "_How can KDL help protect or minimize frost damage?_
>
> "During spring, as plants begin to grow new green tissue, the demand for 
> nitrogen is at its
> greatest.At this stage the nitrogen to potassium ratio favors 
> nitrogen.During the fall, as fruit
> ripens and plants begin to "harden off" and prepare for winter, the demand 
> for potassium is at its
> greatest.At this stage, the potassium to nitrogen ratio favors potassium.
>
> "In the spring, when soil is still wet and cold, roots may not operate as 
> efficiently as during the
> summer.In addition to climatic conditions, soil type, pH, etc. can also 
> affect uptake of
> nutrients.These factors, combined with the natural increased demand for 
> nitrogen, may predispose the
> plant to low or deficient levels of potassium.Potassium is an important 
> element in cell wall
> turgor.Having tender new tissue growth with a high nitrogen to potassium 
> ratio creates
> susceptibility for frost damage.
>
> "Applying KDL immediately before an expected frost can help increase 
> potassium and sugar levels
> within the plant and temporarily put the plant into a more 'winterized' or 
> hardened mode, where its
> tissue is better able to survive cold temperatures without damage.In 
> general, KDL provides
> approximately 5 degrees Fahrenheit of production.If KDL is applied prior to 
> a frost and temperatures
> dip below 27F, some damage may occur."
>
> "_When to apply KDL_
>
> "KDL should be applied within 36 hours before a frost is expected.The 
> recommended rate is 1
> gallon/acre.If frosts are expected to occur on two or more successive 
> nights and daytime
> temperatures are expected to remain low (below 55F), KDL does not need to 
> be reapplied.However, if a
> frost is followed by two or more days of good weather (daytime temperatures 
> 65F or greater), the
> plant will metabolize the potassium quickly.If a second frost is predicted 
> after two or more days of
> good weather, for maximum protection, KDL should be re-applied at 1 
> gal/acre."
>
> The rate for application with backpack sprayers is 4 oz/gallon, and the 
> recommended amount of water
> to use per acre with 1 gallon of KDL is 30-50 gallons.The cost of a gallon 
> of KDL is $17.25 plus
> shipping f.o.b. Minneapolis.KDL is also recommended for application to 
> apricots 4 weeks and 2 weeks
> before harvest to raise the sugar content of the fruit.
>
>
> NAFEX APRICOT INTEREST GROUP REPORTJanuary 16, 2012   Newsletter #14
>
> *KDL update.*I've used potassium dextrose-lactose (KDL), a foliar spray 
> product produced by Agro-K
> Corp. in Minneapolis, for seven years, both in MN and here in ID.I learned 
> more in 2011 about best
> use of this product, valuable in protecting apricot blossoms and fruitlets 
> during frost events in
> the spring and helpful in improving sugar content when applied 4 and 2 
> weeks before harvest.
>
> The current price of KDL is $22/gallon, plus UPS shipping charges from 
> Minneapolis to your
> location.Chapman Mayo, one of the principals at Agro-K, said to use 
> absolutely no more than 3
> oz/gallon, and 2 to 2.5 oz/gallon water may be even better.KDL causes 
> phytotoxicity on young leaves
> and blossoms primarily if it is applied to the point of run-off, where this 
> alkaline product sits
> and dries on the leaf tips.As in past years, I followed the policy of 
> adding household vinegar 1:1
> to KDL before mixing the two with water.My two sprays of KDL (the first was 
> on apricots at full
> bloom, April 8, 2011; the second at petal-fall, April 22) were both at a 
> rate of 3 oz/gallon of
> water with 3 oz vinegar/gallon of water to neutralize its alkalinity.There 
> was absolutely no damage
> at these rates to the blossoms or new leaves on my apricots.
>
> Use of 4 oz/gallon on foliage and fruits in late June, however, resulted in 
> marking of fruits on
> apricot and especially pear, and significant and rapid damage to pear 
> foliage.If you spray with KDL
> apply it as a mist, or the finest droplets your sprayer can 
> produce.Potassium is very mobile in
> leaves, according to Chapman.AIG member Barry Todd (Littleton, CO), who 
> also grows ultra-large
> pumpkins competitively, said that KDL is used extensively by pumpkin 
> growers also to help size their
> fruits.
>
>
> On 3/22/2012 1:08 PM, Jay Cutts wrote:
>   >  It seems like that far north apricots would be real long shot. Here in
>   >  NM they rarely set fruit because of late frosts. Maybe once in 7 years.
>   >  Of course further north your spring might not be as warm as ours.
>   >
>   >  I've never figured out a practical method for protecting tree flowers
>   >  from late frost. I once set my temperature alarm so that if the
>   >  temperature was going to go below freezing (usually 5:30 or 6 am) it
>   >  would wake me up. My plan was to spray water on the trees. But when I
>   >  got out there, the hose was already frozen solid!!
>   >
>   >  Regards,
>   >
>   >  Jay
>   >
>   >  Jay Cutts
>   >  Director, Cutts Graduate Reviews
>   >  Lead Author, Barron's Test Prep Publications
>   >  (505)-281-0684
>   >  10 am to 10 pm Mt Time, 7 days
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >  On 3/22/2012 11:54 AM, Caren Kirk wrote:
>   >>     Following Steve's e-mail about early pruning due to excessively 
> warm
>   >>  weather I am starting to freak out about the apricot I planted last
>   >>  spring. Being that it's the first winter here and then with this yo-yo
>   >>  temperatures, does anyone have any suggestions on how to protect the
>   >>  blossoms. I'm a long way from that right now, the buds haven't even
>   >>  begun to swell yet but it won't be long with this warm weather and I
>   >>  like to be prepared!
>   >>
>   >>  Any advice appreciated.
>   >>
>   >>  Caren Kirk
>   >>  St. Jerome, QC
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