As you may have seen in another post, I am very excited to have my very first- and quite substantial- crop of sweet cherries on my Black Tartarian Tree. I’ve long been told that my chances of ever getting sweet cherries all the way to harvest here in Tennessee is a long shot at best. Since I’m working against the odds AND because I’ve never had sweet cherries on my tree before, I need a little advice on what I should do to maximize my chances of actually getting these fruits to remain viable through harvest. I can handle birds (maybe) and insects (perhaps) but need help with diseases. For example, I’ve read that the south’s hot, humid weather can make brown rot and other things a major challenge.
Can someone please suggest what, if anything, I might spray or otherwise undertake that might maximize my chances of fighting off diseases like brown rot and whatever else makes sweet cherries so difficult here in the south? I’d rather start now than to come here in a panic one day when I notice my fruit all going bad on the tree. Thanks.
I would have started here already except I got behind. For brown rot most use Monterrey Fungi Fighter. I use it along with Bonide’s Fruit and Plant Guard. The Bonide product has a strong synthetic insecticide too, so many rule it out. Those are two of the most effective products for consumers. Some have bought a commercial product to replace MFF. I like using both as they have different modes of attack. Insures all brown rot is killed.
@Drew51, I assume you mean that some others rule it out because it is not organic, is that right? I found a post from 2 years back on another forum where many of the members here commented on the product. Can you tell us your application schedule?
Thanks Drew, a lot. As you may have seen, I just spent about $250 on tree arsenal, so I was hoping maybe I wouldn’t have to buy much more, but if I do I do. I’d be interested in hearing from you and others if I might could wage this battle with things I just bought:
Kocide 3000
Captan 50
Immunox
But if everyone says I really need Monterrey Fungi Fighter, then I’ll probably get it. I love spending several hundred dollars for $25 or less worth of fruit! hahaha. You all get it.
I like to get one spray on before flowers open. I was unable to this year. So first spray will go on at pedal fall. I will alternate products every ten days. So 20 days before I use the same product again. And stop 25 days before harvest. I may use other fungicides too. Copper in dormant season for sure.
Captan works on Blossom blight, brown rot, and scab. On stone fruit, and apples.
Kocide in lower doses could be used to fight powdery mildew on anything. I myself use a liquid product, so I have no experience using kocide for mildew. You can hurt leaves with this product so dosage is critical. I prefer to use the weaker copper sulfate products on growing plants. And only if needed.
I do not use immunox, so no comment.
Kevin,
I know you ask for a preventative action for fungal issue mainly brown rot on cherries. However, I think you already have Captan to spray. If I were you, I’d wait to see if Captan alone would work and how well it works.
Brown rot usually takes a few years to show up and then, multiply When it is beyond what Captan can handle, you can move up to MFF.
I have a question that is somewhat related to the above topic, but its so simple that I think it can be answered in a sentence or two so I just hated to start a whole new thread. For now, I’m not asking for advice on which product to use for what condition. My question is simpler than that. All I’m asking is this:
If and when I need to use Kocide 3000 and/or captan 50, can I use either or both of those products at the same time as my imidan 70w? Specifically, can I mix them in the same tank and apply with one spray application. I doubt I’d ever need kocide and captan at same time, but I’d still like to know if all 3 of these things can be misxed and used at once. WHile I’m asking, what about nu film/ Pinene II? Could I mix it with other 3 aforementioned items? Again, unlikely I’d ever want or need all 4 at same time, but I’d still like to know if they can be mixed so I can put it in my files. Thanks all.
When it is beyond what Captan can handle, you can move up to MFF.