Thursday, September 12

Life after peach leaf curl

Do you remember that early in the year our peach and nectarine trees suffered from peach leaf curl. I posted about it here.

I followed advice to remove diseased leaves as they developed even though it meant that at times the trees were just about bare! I wasn't sure that I was doing the right thing, after all trees need leaves to feed themselves. I read that new leaves would grow but wasn't really convinced. Without any alternative though I persisted - each time quietly apologising to each tree and saying that it was for its own good.

I'm happy to say that both peach and nectarine trees now look very healthy.

This is the nectarine ...
... and this the peach.
We took the opportunity to reduce the height of the peach as having no fruit to spare we cut back some of the tall branches early to hopefully avoid more disease creeping in. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries shouldn't be pruned too late in the year which makes it tricky to decide when to prune trees laden with fruit.

Our apricot tree didn't succumb to peach leaf curl but then again it didn't flower either.
Our new cherry tree - Stella - is growing well but only produced two shrivelled fruits. On the plus side this meant we didn't need to net it!
Then you may remember the apple tree Baya Marissa that came from Spalding bulbs and I reviewed here. If you remember I was disappointed by the size of the plant received - well I am pleased to say that the twig has made good growth.
Maybe next year it will produce a fruit and we will find out whether they are really red all the way through.

PS: The photo of the apple tree had to be large as otherwise it was difficult to differentiate from the apricot growing behind it.



20 comments:

  1. They're looking nice and healthy again now. Fingers crossed that they produce plenty of fruit next year.

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    1. That would be so good, Jo. We were spoiled when the peach fruited in it's first season and the fruit was delicious - a surprise as we thought we had bought a nectarine. The nectarine was loaded with flower this year but sadly no fruit even though I tried hand pollinating!

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  2. I agree it's hard to know when to prune exactly - I pruned the Morello cherry trees as soon as I'd picked off the fruit this year but have been wondering about cutting back my pear and plum trees. Despite being on 'dwarfing rootstock', I need a ladder to reach the top! Neither have fruited yet (five year old trees) so I'm hoping to give them a nudge in the right direction for next year!
    Interesting barrel that your apple is growing in! I thought the long photo was to highlight how tall it had grown!

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    1. The barrel is an air pot, Caro - it's supposed to air [rune the roots and make the tree develop a good root system.

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  3. Glad to hear the trees are now healthy....it's odd re what fruits and what doesn't, I have hardly any pears this year.xxxx

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    1. Our pears have done OK this year, Snowbird

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  4. Oh lovely, lovely fruit trees. I am slightly obsessed with them. Lucky you having so many. One day I shall have an orchard of my very own, with bees and chickens and I shall have all sorts of fruit trees and there will be pigs flying overhead as well no doubt... I'm interested to see that you have fruit in pots, as I've got a few grown like this. It does mean you can fit more in I think, and also that you can move them if you want.

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  5. You've won my little giveaway. Please let me have your address and I'll get the cucumber seeds in the post.

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    1. That's lovely, Jo my chance to grow a different type of cucumber without breaking the bank :) Address is hot-footing it to you as I type!

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  6. They look great. I hope they will produce lots of fruits. We don't have problems with peach leaves curling. They refuse to grow altogether so there are no leaves to curl :)

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    1. At least we have a chance of some fruit next year Leanan

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  7. I can just imagine you Sue down on your knees apologising to each tree for removing leaves! I am a great believer in pruning out diseased leaves in these cases and with pests such as aphid, cutting out shoots dripping with aphid - in the manner of doing the same pinching out blackfly on broad bean shoots

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    1. I've now moved on to the pear trees, Roger

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  8. They're looking healthy, I'm thinking of starting a fruit garden project soon and would like to grow nectarines hopefully.

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  9. I bought a patio peach tree this year and have kept it in the greenhouse as it wasn't doing very well outside. It looks healthy enough so far but will have to remember to keep watering it over winter - how long before I can expect peaches?

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    1. We had some peaches the year after planting but then last year nothing so I think it's anyone's guess, Elaine. Ours did come as a fairly big tree. I hope we both get peaches next year.

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  10. Good to hear the trees are doing well, battling pest and disease is an ongoing issue here too. I managed to save the two new magnolias from spider mites but it was a hard slog and lot of work, only possible because they were in containers so I could move them and get around on all sides. Would have loved to have a peach or cherry tree but I seriously have run out of space for anything bigger than miniature plants. Ehm – next week I get delivery of a date palm, Phoenix canariensis...I just couldn’t resist!!

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    1. We haven't really had spider mite this tear Helene, Kiwi Issai has had it most years and dropped its fruit - this year the fruits hung on but are just tiny!

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