http://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/system/files/onn120203.pdf
Many of us who have grown fruit trees for decades are familiar with these conditions that lead up to disease and insect pressures. This year is a perfect storm of problems for some growers due to the 17 year cicada and wet weather. We experienced these problems last year here in Kansas and are dealing with the aftermath this year. The unusual weather with fluctuating temperatures is a factor as well. In my location I grow fruit trees in areas I probably shouldn’t which is poorly draining clay loam. These conditions are tolerated more by pears and apples than stone fruits. I grow stone fruits in smaller numbers because of the disease pressure. Cicada wound trees while laying eggs which opens up the trees to the aforementioned diseases. The wet weather drives up the numbers of bacteria and fugal diseases to higher than normal rates. The heavy soil that drains poorly and fluctuating temperatures stress trees. These things happen but for growers that means be vigilant on applying sulphur or chemical fungicides which will be challenging due to rain. I grew fruit trees for many years without using modern methods. I made this post in hopes it will help some new growers and those reluctant to spray at all. These type of years remind growers who don’t use chemical to bump up sulphur and copper usage. It’s the type of year that is the reason I began using chemical.
Here its been very wet but has also been very cool, so the diseases have not been bad. The only exception is black knot, I am still getting over a “perfect storm” I had for knot last year which gave me hundreds of knots.
I normally see the oozing on the peach trunk but this morning, I notice this oozing from the bottom of some of the Saturn fruitlets. What’s this disease? Borer? And how to treat/prevent? I’ve sprayed with Spectracide twice already but will need another one probably due to last night major down pour.
Thanks Scott for solving my “problem” so quickly! I also have another question. On this same tree, there’re 4, 5 leaves that have red patches on them. Are they ok? Or some sort of fungus starts to develop?
I am no expert but it sure looks like peach leaf curl. As it progresses, the leaf will die any way imo and the fungus will move on to its next stage. By removing the leaves you help break its cycle. I have a peach tree that has some of it almost every year.
Scott,
Sorry to here about the black knot it can be difficult to eradicate. It’s one of those diseases that if it’s in your area it will be back much like Fireblight. The bad diseases like that occasionally remind me I need to step up my game. I finally started using copper after I resisted using it for many years. Copper cleared up a lot of problems.
Ray,
I sure hope the Fireblight does not show up here this year. I primarily grow pears and some apples and it hit a branch on every tree in a row last year. I cut off 5 or so big branches.
Clark,
I’ve had repeated strikes on two of my trees, but none of the
others, which makes no sense. It’s even plagued my healthiest
tree, which never gets anything. I’m very much afraid of losing it.
Ray,
2 years ago I had two trees suddenly hit with Fireblight and they were very ill with it. One was a Kieffer and the other a clapps favorite. It appeared systemic. I read online bacteria was very sensitive to vinegar. Mixed the sprayer with 50/50 white vinegar and water and sprayed them which caused the leaves to develop black spots that went away later but the Fireblight stopped and never progressed farther. I realize vinegar is a mild weed killer but if you get desperate try it. I had trees killed to the ground with Fireblight several times and I’m convinced those would have been killed had I not gave them the vinegar and water bath. There a few posts on the internet where I got the idea. I have several trees each year or more that I use the vinegar on. The trees won’t look nice but none that I sprayed died and that was better than the alternative.
On Tomatoville a few people have been trying bleach sprays with good results for septoria, and bac spot, even late and early blight on tomatoes. So I think the vinegar is worth a try for sure.
Drew,
My mom used bleach on roses once for leaf spot and it never came back after that. I know other people swear by diseases being linked to a mineral deficiency with boron, zinc, and magnesium being high on the suspect list with calcium close behind. Someday I hope we have a better understanding of many of these diseases and pests.
Clark,
These two trees are loaded with fruit. One appears to have it in the trunk,
and is oozing liquid that is running down the trunk. Do you just spray the
trunk and branches or the leaves and fruit also. I can control the other tree
with pruning.
Ray,
I spray everything down trunk, foliage, branches, fruit until it’s dripping with vinegar water. I get bottoms and tops of leaves but do make sure and dillute it. It won’t hurt the fruit. The spot that’s oozing on the trunk I would try and carve out with a knife because it will be a point of reinfection. Yes if you don’t think you will lose it I would not worry about spraying it with vinegar but the one in real bad shape I would spray for sure.
