What’s up? Tender fruit and Grape update July 16, 2026

Kathryn Carter, Fruit Specialist-Tender fruit and Grape

This week has been challenging for growers and employees as hot temperatures, and smoke from the wildfires in Northern Ontario have made outdoor activities challenging.

For information on how to reduce exposure, safeguard employee well-being, and keep your workplace prepared during wildfire smoke events:

6 ways to protect employees from wildfire smoke

Wildfire Smoke in Canada | MILTSD shares Q&A for workplaces

Small Biz Safety Podcast | Episode 29 | Protect employees from wildfire smoke

Farm Safety Roundup, Ep 19: Weathering the extremes | Farm safety in tough

Tender fruit and Fresh Grape

Crop development is slightly ahead of average as a result of an early bloom. Peach harvest is ongoing  with Rising Sun, Harrow Diamond and VG200 being harvested this week.  

( Left)-Harson peach, (right) VG200 in Lincoln, July 14, 2026

Generally mid to late July is a good timing to conduct leaf analysis in tree fruit. Leaf analysis provides important information that can be used to make educated decisions about next years fertilizer programs, potential resulting in reduced fertilizer use, and or minimizing nutrient deficiencies. For more information on tissue analysis in tender fruit see:  Tissue Sampling for Tender Fruit (Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries and Pears) – ONfruit. Tissue samples can be submitted to OMAFA credited labs.

Jupiter Table Grapes NOTL July 16, 2026

Wine grapes

Niagara: Many wine grape cultivars are at berry touch to bunch closure. Focus at this time is on canopy management including leaf removal, hedging to help maintain an open canopy. Cluster thinning is also occurring in some cultivars with heavy fruit set.

Prince Edward County: Some grape cultivars are approaching berry touch. Focus is on canopy management leaf removal, heading to maintain an open canopy. Sprays to manage botrytis are important at this timing. 

For images of growth stages of grapes see: Growthstages or Viti 1 Chapter 07 Phenology

(Left)-Chardonnay Lincoln; (Right) Chardonnay NOTL July 16, 2026