North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doreen Howard" <doreenh@ticon.net>]

I've had great success with neem seed oil on peaches and pears.  Don't have
any apple, so I can't contribute experience there.  Neem acts as a
pesticide, miticide and fungicide, and it works!  The principle is that the
oil clogs respiratory parts of insects and acts as a barrier to fungal
spores so they cannot attach.  If you are in a heavy rain area, you have to
apply neem oil about every 10 days.  Less often if your rainfall is scant.
One problem is that the oil is very gummy and you have to be vigilant about
cleaning sprayers.  A little liquid dish soap works well for me.  Another
down side for organic gardeners is that there is anecdotal evidence about
neem altering the reproductive patterns of beneficial insects--rendering
many sterile.  You should spray at times when bees are not active to avoid
this.  Also, spray in low sunlight times.  At mid-day, fresh neem oil will
act like a prism and burn sprayed leaves.
Doreen Howard
Wisconsin, Zone 4b

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rodney Eveland" <Reveland@WYOMING.com>
To: "Nafex" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 7:45 PM
Subject: [NAFEX] NEEM OIL


> The web site in the below URL makes NEEM oil seem like a panacea. I only
> recently aquired some and am anxious to see if it offers any protection
> for apples and for pear slug control. Has anyone had any experience
> (especially success) with it?
>
> http://www.nutri-tech.com.au/articles/Neem.htm
>
> Of course they are selling the stuff.
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