From: "William C. Garthright" <billg@inebraska.com>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [NAFEX] Fireblight
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:32:01 -0500
Pruning apples from mid-July on does not stimulate much vegetative
growth and that growth is not noticeably tender in my experience.
But isn't there a problem with fireblight in summer pruning apples? I've
been pruning everything else but apples and pears, because I've had
fireblight really bad on my Suncrisp apple, and I didn't want it to
spread. Unfortunately, a couple of my trees REALLY need pruning.
I must admit that I haven't notice fireblight on the Suncrisp where I
cut off infected branches (it just seems to pop up at random), but I
thought that was how it spread, through cuts (and through blossoms,
during that time of year). I've had a LOT of fireblight on the Suncrisp
(a fireblight magnet, as some of you have told me), but nothing yet on
the three trees planted only 18" away. I had a little bit, earlier in
the season, on my Pink Lady apple, but I haven't seen anything on my
European or Asian pears.
What do you think? Do I need to avoid summer pruning on all my apples
and pears, or not?
Thanks,
Bill
Lincoln, NE (zone 5)
--
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an
exception. - Groucho Marx