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Fig tree and tortrix update

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
Those of you interested  will know that I cut my tree back to sticks a few days ago in an effort  to break the life cycle  of the tortrix moth. It remains to be seen if I have been successful. 
However,  some good news. Buds have broken through  within days.  The fig tree certainly  wants to live!

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Nice healthy leaves no webs so far .
    I think the answer might be to spray the individual buds in the spring before they open
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Still doing well. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited August 2023
    Bad news. They're back. Mostly in young leaves but not entirely. This makes sense, I suppose , as the moth lays it's eggs in the buds. I'm not inclined to spray anything at this time of year so I'm cutting off affected leaves. Not sure that'll make much difference as the horse has bolted once the webs are formed. Some of the larvae are as small as an eyelash. They can move like racing snakes once they get a bit bigger so I assume they can set up home in the more mature leaves too.
    I don't like figs so I grow it for foliage as a small tree. I can't see how people who want the fruit or with unreachable branches will manage.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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