North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["David Doud" <doudone@netusa1.net>]

there was a question a couple weeks ago about blossoms hanging on the tree into the winter season -

 

I opined that it was a characteristic of certain varieties to do that,  and there was nothing to worry about -

 

and I stand by that opinion - pretty much -

 

but,  I was pruning thru some Gala on friday and came to a tree that had 'blossom blight' (fireblight of the blossom cluster, infected during bloom) - those blossoms/small spur leaves were hanging on tight -

 

now, Gala is one of those varieties that do hang onto mummies and aborted blossoms,  but  I could tell the difference in that the fireblighted spurs exhibited more of the 'shepards crook' form,  both the blossoms and spur leaves - usually the bud was also dead,  tho many had a live bud on the bourse -

 

so - I still wouldn't worry much about taking propagation wood off such trees,  if there was no ready alternative, as propagation wood is of a different nature than the spur blighted wood - -

 

just thought I'd share -

regards - D