Do you have a problem with your fruit trees, bushes, or vines? Submitting quality samples is key to accurate disease diagnosis and effective management—especially for tree fruits, pome fruits, soft fruits, and berries. To prepare high-quality fruit samples, collect tissue showing all stages of symptoms and include the entire plant if possible. Be sure to wrap roots securely to prevent drying and use plastic bags to retain moisture during transit. For tree and pome fruits, send three branch sections measuring between half an inch to two inches thick and six to eight inches long, selecting branches that include both healthy and symptomatic tissue, especially from wilting areas. Keep these samples cool and bagged until shipment. For soft fruits and berries, use paper bags instead of plastic to reduce excess moisture and help preserve fruit quality. Mature fruits should be packaged separately, but submitting the whole plant is ideal. Secure all materials in sturdy boxes to avoid damage during shipping. Proper packaging and sample selection lead to more accurate evaluations and better disease management recommendations.
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Do you want to join the Ohio State University Master Gardener Volunteer Program? Applications are now available for the 2022 training class. The Ohio State University Master Gardener Program reaches hundreds of people in Paulding County each year. While this program is held in 2022 in Williams County, the initial certification classes are universal statewide and will count toward becoming a volunteer in Paulding County.