Fruit Team Twilight Meeting

Join the UMass Extension Fruit Team at the UMass Cold Spring Research and Education Orchard for a vineyard twilight meeting focused on key management decisions during rapid shoot growth and the lead-up to bloom. This is a critical time for both table and wine grape production in Massachusetts, as disease pressure begins to build and canopy management practices directly influence fruit quality and season-long pest control.

We will cover identification and management of early-season grape diseases including Phomopsis, black rot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew, with a focus on current infections and spray timing.

We will also discuss insect activity, including early grape berry moth and climbing cutworms, along with spotted lanternfly identification.

The meeting will include a laser bird deterrent demonstration and a visit to our American grape variety trial.

This interactive session is designed to support timely, informed decision-making during one of the most important windows of the growing season.