North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>]

Though curculio is not a problem out here, I still try to keep an eye on control methods.  The reports of good control are isolated.  Some growers like Surround plus Neem; some use trap trees; some burn the underlying plants.  I think it’s most likely that a combination of methods would work best.  I’m hoping for more effective pheromone traps, which would not just monitor the presence of the wee beasts but trap them out or interfere with mating.  IPM (integrated pest management with limited pesticide use) is an understandable choice vs. organic when dealing with curculio.  Our coop carries only organic produce, but I think we lose business by not having local IPM crops available hen there’s no organic alternative.  Then again, being strict does create a demand for more all-organic crops.  But we’re spoiled.  Right now we don’t have pests that can’t be controlled organically. 

 

~ Stephen

 

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From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Lee Reich
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 6:48 AM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Curculio / Surround adhesion question

 

I sprayed Surround on my apples for about five years, beginning right after petal fall and then every week or two or whenever it rained about an inch. I got good coverage using a gasoline powered Stihl backpack sprayer. In those five years, I harvested almost no apples and would often see curculio scars on the fruits the day after I sprayed!

 

Lee Reich, PhD

garden@leereich.com

 

Books by Lee Reich:

The Pruning Book

Weedless Gardening

Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden

A Northeast Gardener's Year