1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

should be set about 100 yards inside the orchard edge in
full sunlight.
Hive entrances should be facing south or southeast to
take advantage of sunshine on cool days. The hives
should sit on boxes or at least have weeds removed from
in front of the entrances. Wind protection is desirable.
There should be a plentiful pesticide-free source of water
within one-fourth mile of the bees; eliminate all water
contaminated with insecticides.

Pollinizers.Trees providing sufficient compatible
pollen for the main producing trees are necessary. The
minimum planting arrangement of pollinizers is every
third tree in every third row. Every other tree in every
other row would be more nearly ideal.

Table 3.10. Pesticides and Honeybees in Orchards

Where pollinizers have not been planted, a good
practice is to graft a pollinizer branch in each producing
tree. Annual blooming at the same time as the producing
tree is important in the selection of the pollinizer variety.
Large bouquets of pollinizer branches in drums of water
near each tree are needed when no other pollinizers are
available. The nearer the pollen source to the producing
trees the better the distribution of pollen to all blossoms
by bees.

Pollen Inserts.The use of pollen inserts in the bee hive
entrance has improved fruit set. There are several
suppliers of pollen and inserts; their addresses are
available from your county Extension agent. Order well
ahead of bloom.

IMAGE Imgs/3GENERA19.gif

Peach Winter Injury

dormant period. This is by far the most common
type of injury. The injury is caused by water and
sap movement in the cambium when bark tissue
is warmed by the sun. A sudden drop in
temperature results in freeze injury to this tissue.
Injury occurs most frequently to the trunk area,
but major scaffold limbs are also frequently
injured. Although the injury is most prevalent on
the southwest side of the trees, all sides can be
injured. Death of the trees from this type of injury
is most prevalent in 4- to 6-year-old trees, but 2-
and 3-year-old trees are frequently injured and a
decline in vigor usually occurs. Such damage can
occur any time after the rest period is completed
(January).


Cultural Practices for Winter Injury

Employing orchard practices that assist the trees

in hardening-off properly can control the first type of
injury. Avoid late fertilization and cultivation and
permitting late-season weed growth or cover crop growth
are extremely important.
Treating the trunks with reflective material can

Injury as a result of cold temperature is common in
most orchards. These are three general types of injury to
consider:
1. Early cold temperatures before trees are dormant.
Since trees harden-off from the twig tips to the
trunk, a cold period prior to the time the trees
become dormant is likely to cause injury to the
trunk area of the tree. This type of injury is most
severe in trees that are growing vigorously late in
the summer and fall.
2. Cold temperatures while trees are dormant. The
exact temperatures at which damage occurs to
dormant trees depend on many factors, including
tree vigor, variety, and age. Generally, a
temperature of -10oF is sufficient to injure and kill
fruit buds. Temperatures colder than -10oF usually
injure or kill cambium and bark tissues. This
type of injury is somewhat reduced if low areas
and areas exposed to north winds are avoided.
Varieties are being tested in New Jersey for
tolerance to this problem.
3.Fluctuating cold temperatures after the

1998 New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide

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