King David Apple and Fireblight: Beware

AJfromElmiraNY · 2016-10-28T20:12:00.590Z

hambone:

I think high temps kill off blight or somehow disable it.

applenut:

emps over 94 degrees knock it way back here in California

Both of you mentioned that high temps will suppress FB. Is this true in high humidity?

fruitnut · 2016-10-28T20:51:51.662Z

AJfromElmiraNY:

Both of you mentioned that high temps will suppress FB. Is this true in high humidity?

No, FB loves high humidity and rain.

hambone · 2017-03-06T17:17:58.719Z

Here’s a chart that rates various apple varieties for disease resistance. It impresses me as candid and knowledgeable when it rates King David “Moderately resistant OR susceptible” to fire blight!

http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Disease-resistant_apple_varieties/

hambone · 2018-08-08T21:02:54.548Z

Update: After an email from me relating some of our problems with King David and fireblight, Cummins Nursery changed its catalog description to say fireblight may be a problem in zones warmer than Zone 5. Bravo Cummins.

Auburn · 2018-08-08T21:20:59.310Z

I have a few grafts of KD that fruited this year. As of now I haven’t seen any FB but I will keep a check for it. Very few apple varieties in my area escape without some damage. Thanks for the update.

Chris_in_GA · 2018-08-08T23:34:11.388Z

My King David (on G-16) is on its 6th leaf and do not recall ever having a FB problem with the tree. FB is so unpredictable that I have come to the conclusion that, until proven otherwise, a low tolerance FB rating (with a few exceptions) is not going not keep from growing a variety that I want to grow.

I have been proven otherwise with Pink Lady - had 2 PL trees die from FB so I have thrown in the towel on PL even it is a great tasting apple.

Here is a picture of my King David tree I took today, tree looks pretty good even though I have been lazy and not done any spraying for a couple of months.

IMG_20180808_190731.jpg1727×2303 2.58 MB

Auburn · 2018-08-08T23:43:05.682Z

Chris_in_GA:

My King David (on G-16) is on its 6th leaf and do not recall ever having a FB problem with the tree.

Glad to get a good report on King David. I’m like you in that if there is no issues it stays until proven wrong. Jonagold has been my problem tree.

hambone · 2018-08-08T23:53:50.494Z

The most accurate description I’ve seen of King David and blight is from a blog or website called Walden Effect where they rate it “resistant OR susceptible.” Ha! I’ve never seen another variety described that way but I think it perfectly fits KD’s jekyll and hyde behavior.