This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Peach tree leaf curl
in Fruit & veg
My dwarf Peach tree had a lot of flowers but it developed leaf curl and only 2 tiny fruit (5mm dia) are on the tree. Most of the leaves have curled and distorted. What is it and what can I do? The tree is in it's 2nf season. Last year it produced abot 6 small, inediale fruit. I feed it spring and autumn with blood, bone and fish meal fertilizer. Thanks for any help.
0
Posts
Hi Doreen, peach leaf curl is a fungus which overwinters in the bark and in the bud scales of ornamental cherries, plums peaches etc. Spary with Dithane 945 but it should be done in February and before leaf fall. I think you've missed your chance for this year.
I had it in a blackthorn hedge and it cleared after a couple of treatments. That was a long time ago though so new treatments may have been discovered. Check around on tinterweb.
Last edited: 09 June 2016 09:19:02
Thank you very much for your advice. Hopefully we'll get some fruit next year.
Hi Doreen. If possible treat your peach tree every Autumn with a fungicide spray after all the leaves have fallen off. Clear away all the leaves and do not put them in your compost bin but in the council green recycle bin so they are removed from your garden.
aym - we had some late frosts which may have killed your peach blossom and then there's always the little bullfinch pests!
You can make conditions unsuitable for the fungus to develop by protecting the tree from the rain with a plastic sheet or tent - the RHS recommmend this approach, it stops the spores getting spread around. You have to cover it very early in spring. The new leaves that come after you have removed the affected ones should be ok.
I covered mine in plastic over winter and took it off end of May. Didn't catch the blossom to pollinate (if there was any). Leaves have remained normal, but no fruit this year. My two last year were eaten by snails, just as they were ripening! It is on my allotment, so it's tricky to pollinate at just the right time. Better luck with yours!
No peaches this year for me either. I think it was too cold when it blossomed so there were no pollinating insects about.