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Which fungicide for Pear Tree leaf curl

johnfR9Qv984johnfR9Qv984 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
I'm pretty sure my 5yr old pear tree has leaf curl - it flowers, fruit begins to develop, does the early summer fruit drop, but then none of the remaining fruit matures, it all drops off. The leaves start off ok, but soon become distorted.
I've read that I should spray a copper based fungicide after the leaves have dropped, and again in spring before the buds open. But which brand is suitable? It's not obvious at all from the online sites I've looked at.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    copper based fungicides have been banned in the UK for ages now.
    There are no fungicidal treatments available for edibles.

    Welcome to the forum

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I am afraid that there are no fungicides,  available to amateurs for use on food crops. The advice from the RHS is to protect from winter rain.  We had a nectarine in a large pot on the patio.  I wasn't able to save it,  those who think it only distorts a few leaves,  have no idea how damaging this disease can be. 
    AB Still learning

  • Jac19Jac19 Posts: 496
    Clear all the infected leaves from the garden.  Don't compost and add the infection back to the garden.  The pores sometimes over-winter.  So, clear as much of the infected leaves from the garden and burn them or take them to a dump.

    The hope is that it will sprout healthy leaves next season.

    However, if the fungus is in the neighbourhood in another garden, the likelihood is that it will reach your pear tree again.  Clear the leaves that fall this year and pray for it to come back healthy next year.
  • johnfR9Qv984johnfR9Qv984 Posts: 4
    Thanks everyone for your comments, that's very helpful. I had a Gooseberry growing under that tree which developed rust, so I moved it. An area prone to fungal infections, perhaps. Clearing the leaves isn't easy, as the base of the tree has herbaceous planting, I may try putting some fine netting down to catch them. Perhaps the tree is doomed as a fruit tree, although it still produces blossom.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Here in France they use a "tea" made from soaking horse/mare's tail in water, just as you would for a nettle or borage tea.   It can be home made if you have the weed but is also on sale in garden shops here.

    It is recommended for peach leaf curl, mildews, rusts, leaf blister on grapevines.  It is accepted here as an organic treatment and fine for edibles.

    1 kilo of horsetail leaves and stems, soaked in 9 litres of rain water or soft tap water - no calcium - in a plastic bucket as metal will react.  Leave it 2 weeks with a cover to hide the smell.   Stir, strain and keep in air tight containers in a cool place.

    Dilute 1 part tea with 9 parts water and use as a spray in spring and autumn but can also be used thru the growing season if trouble spots appear. 


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • johnfR9Qv984johnfR9Qv984 Posts: 4
    That sounds good, but it may be a bit late in the year to collect Field Horsetail (which seems to be the species used). I'll scout around for a supplier.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You can also make your own copper based fungicide.
    Copper-based fungicides were banned for sale in the UK as fruit growers used them every year on their crops as a PREVENTATIVE rather than a treatment. Over many years this causes a buildup of copper in the soil which will kill worms and may leech into rivers and harm fish.
    For occasional use at home this would not be an issue and it is perfectly safe to spray on edibles.
    It's called Bordeaux Mixture - there are plenty of recipes on the web and the ingredients are widely available. 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • johnfR9Qv984johnfR9Qv984 Posts: 4
    Pete.8 said:
    You can also make your own copper based fungicide.
    Cheers Pete, I'll look into it. 

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