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Peach tree troubles
NewbieGardenerSW17
Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg
I followed a YouTube video, and successfully sprouted 6 peach pits to seedling size. One survived to about 12" & we planted it in July last year into a west facing bed. Since then it has grown to well over a metre & is flourishing. It has had some tips affected by peach leaf curl, which I've nipped off with secateurs. Some of the leaves have small holes in. Are these just caterpillars feeding, or more evidence of PLC? There does not appear to be an authorised PLC treatment available in the UK altho some kind of copper solution is recommended in the US. Any advice?
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
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We have a peach tree (not grown from seed, I hasten to add) which has very bad peach leaf curl - every year. It always has lots of flowers, but never produces any fruit. We have always been too busy to do much with it. We now have more time for the garden and this year, I applied an organic fungicide ... I sprayed the leaves (possibly at the wrong time because it had just come into flower - but we had nothing to lose). I also watered it with the solution.
Nature's Choice - (available on Amazon) £12.70
Organic Fungicide for Peach Leaf CURL - Natural Fungicide Concentrate Against FUNGAL Diseases and Spores (500 ML)
I have noticed that the PLC is worse now than it has ever been ... and no sign of a peach. Sometimes, with these things they apparently get worse before they get better. I am intending to water at the base with this fungicide over the summer, give it another spray in the autumn and hope it doesn't come back. I don't think I will buy any more at that price and next year may well remove the tree and replant with something different. I am fed up with seeing the ugly PLC!
Incidentally, growing near the peach is a pear tree that I grew from a seed ... it is now about 15-20' high, is flourishing and producing pears. I love it!
My apologies if this reply is rather negative ... but well done again for your success - perhaps, as you have a young tree you will be able to get on top of the problem; I think we left ours too long before tackling it!
One remedy that is recommended is a natural fungicidal spray made from a "tea" from horsetail weed and used as both prevention and cure. You have to crush it up to help break its cell structure then soak it in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks then strain and dilute as needed. It's also recommended as a treatment for preventing blight and mildew.
1kg fresh horsetail foliage and stems
9litres of calcium free water (rainwater if your tap water is hard)
Steep these in a non-metal bucket with a lid for 2 weeks.
Strain and filter then dilute 1 part "tea" with 9 parts water and use as a spray.