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Apple scab fungicide

K S mithK S mith Posts: 17
in Problem solving
Hi All. My five year old Howgate Wonder has developed apple scab. As well as removing fallen leaves and mulching, I would like to use a fungicide to reduce the chance of it spreading to my other apples. As Bordeaux Mixture is no longer available, what else is there?

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's not something I've had a problem with, and there may be effective sprays available. Maybe someone can advise.

    Bordeaux Mixture was only banned because farmers were using it too frequently as a preventative spray and the copper it contains was building up in the soil over the years making it toxic which then bled off into rivers and harmed aquatic life too.
    So long as you're not going to be drenching the soil with the stuff regularly it's not going to be a problem. There a plenty of recipes on the web for Bordeaux Mixture and most of the ingredients can be bought on Amazon

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Some varieties are just very prone to it and there's nothing much you can do. 
    I had to get rid of mine because of it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    As Fairygirl says, there's not much that is guaranteed to help, but it might be worth doing a web search for 'fungicidal winter tree wash' in addition to the cultural methods you mention, which are vital.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • K S mithK S mith Posts: 17
    Thank you Pete and Bob. Fairy girl, I remarked I was not going to replace my heritage trees and I'm sorry you had to get rid of yours.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I can't actually see anything in your post about heritage trees @K S mith, but I hope you get a solution.
    I wasn't that bothered about losing the ones I had, as they were a bargain ,and weren't actually as labelled, so they didn't owe me anything  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Shame ... Howgate Wonder is a marvellous apple ...
    This may be of interest https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/apples/variety-howgate-wonder.php

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • K S mithK S mith Posts: 17
    I'm familiar with that web page and have had HWs last until late February in a good year. It is biannual bearing and in full years the tree is weighed down with massive apples and lean years are still good. I get a lot of comments from passing allotment neighbours. I lock my gate in good years.  
    Fairygirl, I thought I'd copy/pasted about the scab but it seems I hadn't. I do apologise. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2020
    I see you’ve not told us whereabouts you are @ksmith06 ... I don’t blame you ... it’d take more than a locked gate to stop me if there was a chance of scrimping a pinny-full of Howgate Wonder ... even with my gammy knee ... a superb apple for a proper pie 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Oh- no need to apologise @K S mith. I thought it was me being stupid!
     
    Hope you get a good solution, and watch out for that @Dovefromabove.... ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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