Annual pruning is a critical management practice for producing easily harvested, heavy crops of high quality peaches. However, pruning is not a substitute for other orchard practices such as fertilization, irrigation, and pest control. Pruning practices vary slightly in different regions of the United States, but have changed little in the East during the past 70 years. Although pruning may vary slightly for different varieties and localities, certain general practices should be followed. The successful pruner must understand the principles of plant growth, the natural growth habit of the tree, and how the tree will respond to certain types of pruning cuts. Improper pruning will reduce yield and fruit quality.

Proper training and pruning of trees is a major component of a profitable apple orchard operation. Successful pruning is an art based upon scientific principles of tree growth and physiology and an experienced understanding of tree response to various pruning cuts and practices. Each tree is an individual and should be treated accordingly. Varieties differ in growth characteristics and response to pruning cuts, rootstocks, soil, and growing conditions. It is important that orchard designs, objectives, and goals be clearly defined and that pruning principles are developed accordingly. Mediumto high-density plantings require greater commitment to detailed training and pruning than low-density orchards and should not be attempted unless such a commitment is made.

Growing apples in the home garden can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but consistent production of high quality fruit requires knowledge of tree and fruit growth and a willingness to perform certain practices at the appropriate time. Virginia is on the southern fringe of the U. S. apple producing region. Most apple varieties produce the highest quality fruit when night-time temperatures are cool (less than 60°F) at harvest time. Apples grown under warmer conditions tend to be large, soft, poorly colored, and less flavorful than when grown under cooler conditions. Our warm humid summers are also conducive for infection of many diseases. For these reasons, the best Virginia apples are grown at elevations higher than 800 feet above sea level in the western part of the state. However, even apples grown in eastern Virginia usually have quality superior to apples purchased in the supermarkets.

Since the mid 1970s in the U. S., the number of apple trees per acre in new orchards has gradually been increasing. Orchard intensification is motivated by the desire to produce fruit early in the life of the orchard to rapidly recover establishment costs. Intensification is possible by using dwarfing rootstocks that control tree size, induce early cropping, and produce large quantities of fruit relative to the amount of wood produced.

Woody plants are pruned to maintain a desired size and shape and to promote a certain type of growth. Ornamental plants are pruned to improve the aesthetic quality of the plant, but fruit trees are pruned to improve fruit quality by encouraging an appropriate balance between vegetative (wood) and reproductive (fruiting) growth.

It is desirable to locate the fruit planting as close to your home as possible. Where space is limited, fruit trees may be set in almost any location suitable for ornamental plants. Consider the mature size of the tree when designing the planting.

Brown rot is one of the most destructive diseases of peach and nectarine in Virginia, and also occurs on other stone fruits such as apricot, cherry, and plum. When environmental conditions favor this disease, crop loss can be devastating.

The guide contains information on pesticides used in orchards, with a seasonal treatment of when and how these materials should be employed. Efficacy information toward major fruit pests as well as beneficial species is included. The guide is black and white, but with a color photograph for the cover. It is spiral bound.

The Vineyard Financial Calculator is an educational tool that is useful for comparing the financial performance of different vineyard operational scenarios. This tool's intended user is an individual or organization exploring the financial requirements of vineyard establishment and operation in Virginia. The tool was designed to forecast the approximate pretax annual cash inflows and outflows of a vineyard − information required to build a business prospectus. Users can modify certain input variables, such as vineyard size and labor costs, as well as outputs, such as crop level, to tailor the projections to personal expectations. The VFC is only a predictive tool; actual results could vary from those predicted due to site conditions, variances in costs, or unanticipated gains or losses. This tool was created in 2016 and originally published in 2017. The principals with which this tool operates are still valid, but the raw material prices may have changed.

Grape acreage and production have been steadily increasing in the US. In 2010 there were approximately 23,000 farms with a total of 944,800 acres producing grapes. Ninety percent of these farms are smaller than 100 acres and about 16,000 of these were vineyards. California accounts for about 90% of the total production in the US. The next two largest grape producing states are Washington and New York and they produce approximately 6% and 2% respectively (NASS-USDA, 2014)

Pre-harvest fruit drop (PFD) causes significant yield losses in 'Honeycrisp' apples. This study evaluated naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), and their combined application for PFD management, assessing fruit retention and quality for two growing seasons. All treatments generally reduced PFD compared to controls, with AVG often showing the greatest reduction. However, AVG consistently impaired red fruit color development. In contrast, NAA effectively controlled PFD without negatively impacting color or firmness and improved fruit sweetness. These findings highlight that while both can reduce drop, NAA provides a better balance for 'Honeycrisp' growers by mitigating PFD while preserving or enhancing key quality attributes like color and sweetness compared to AVG.

This publication summarizes a multi-year field trial evaluating 14 apple rootstocks for their effects on bitter pit (BP) incidence and fruit quality in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples. It provides practical, research-based guidance to growers and extension agents, highlighting how rootstock selection influences BP severity, fruit size, and mineral nutrient balance. The content is adapted from a peer-reviewed article (Islam et al., 2022) and presented in grower-friendly language to support orchard management decisions.

This project evaluates a novel approach to managing pre-harvest fruit drop (PFD) and enhancing red coloration in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples by combining two plant growth regulators: aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG, marketed as ReTain) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC, marketed as Accede). Conducted over two seasons (2023–2024) in Virginia, the study compared six treatments—including ReTain, Accede, Motivate (ethephon), and their combinations—applied to mature ‘Honeycrisp’ trees. While ReTain effectively reduced fruit drop, it also suppressed color development. Conversely, Accede enhanced coloration but led to higher fruit drop. The combination of ReTain and Accede proved to balance these trade-offs, significantly reducing fruit drop while improving red color and maintaining desirable fruit quality traits. The findings offer a practical strategy to maximize both yield and marketability in ‘Honeycrisp’ apple production.

This publication summarizes a three-year field study investigating the effects of ten commercial rootstocks on flower bud mortality in ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apples during natural spring frost events in Virginia. Results highlight significant rootstock-specific differences in bud survival, with B.9 consistently showing the lowest mortality. The findings offer practical recommendations to help growers select cold-hardy rootstocks that reduce frost-related losses and improve crop reliability in the face of shifting climate patterns.