----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2006 9:55
PM
Subject: [NAFEX] No spray peaches in the
SE (at least Bristol, TN)
Shirley wrote:
Does anyone know any varieties that are less susceptible?
Shirley,
We're in NE TN, but hundreds of miles from you. We inherited
a peach tree when we moved in '92, and unless blooms freeze in the spring, it
reliably gives peaches with no sprays at all. A tree across town was
laden with fruit last August, and the owners shared while apologizing that
they had not sprayed it (they were apologizing for some brown rot).
Across town the other way, we harvested fruit from 4 peach trees, also with no
spray on any of those. Contrast this with a yard about 1/4 mile from our
house where multiple peach trees have come and gone, and even when we avoid
spring freezes, they have a tough time getting much good fruit. These
folks practice no orchard management other than jerking up dead trees and
putting new ones in beside ones on the way out.
Peach trees bearing well locally appear to have these in common: full
sun, pruning for wide spacing between branches, and orchard sanitation
(all dead branches and damaged fruit removed). In summary, a good
pruning and orchard sanitation program can go a long way toward getting sound
fruit, whether peaches, pears or apples, with less need to spray, at least
where I live. It probably matters are least as much how
peaches are managed than the variety you are planting, for peaches can
have multiple insect and disease challenges. My new peach trees are
resistant to peach leaf curl, bacterial spot, brown rot and/or late freezes
(high chill).
Don noted that you need to thin fruit, removing all with bug
damage. Important to pick up all fruit that drops off the tree as
well, and dispose of these, too, to break the insect life cycle.
If you know the diseases and insects that you face, and manage
toward interrupting their life cycles, you have a much better chance of
getting peaches, whether you choose to spray or not. Your county ag
extension agent can send in samples to the state entomologist, for positive ID
of the bugs damaging your peaches. Glad to share more details offline of
how to do this in TN; our state entomologist gives helpful advice with
the reports he sends back to us.
As for varieties resistant to insects, peaches do better than plums or
nectarines for us. Whether there are any peaches resistant to OFM,
I do not know. I'd try sending in some of your damaged peaches
through your county ag agent, just to be sure what you have, for best
management in the future.
Richard Moyer
Bristol, TN
Zone 6, 1800 ft
