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Maggots in Plums
I have two Victoria Plum trees on dwarf rooting stock. They are prolific fruiters but in the last two years a number of fruits have had maggots. The trees have no grass round the roots, are watered and pruned appropriately. I try to grow organically and in the past have used nematodes but they are rather expensive. Can you advise me please.
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Nematodes will not have any effect on Plum moth. You need to buy the Pheromone traps to catch the males before they can fertilise the females. Sad;y even then you will not stop them all. The traps are only really an indication of when you should spray. I use a Horticultural soft soap preparation which is reasonably organic as it is plant based.
Collect up and burn any infected fruit. Also try spraying the trees in December with the soap, to kill and overwintering moths.
Thank you so much for this. I have been offered a lot of advice, none of which worked but this is a new one. I will try it this winter and let you know what happens. Thank you again.
My small tree seems to have had ever single plum (apart from the first one, thankfully I am a 'plum cut in half' person!) has had at least one caterpillar in. My tree is quite near to my pond so I am reluctant to spray if I can avoid it. Is there a brand of the soft soap I should have a look at?
Pheromone traps will be deployed next year!