Can anyone help me identify and fix a problem with a peach tree? I have a tree that started producing 3-4 years ago. The first year, the peaches were large, beautiful and delicious. Every year since then, something--a blight, insect, ?--has ruined the peaches. After they start to grow, a dark spot appears on each peach and juice oozes out of the spot. The peach only grows to about golf ball size and is useless. Any ideas on what it is and what to do about it?
Go here and see if this is what you got.
http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/811.pdf
I have had most of mine do that too the last two years. The local Ag. man said that it was from them getting "stung" by wasps. He recomended using a pre-emergent spray next year. I left them on until they fell off this year hoping the wasps would leave the good ones alone, but no such luck. :(
Don't know anything about Peach trees, however, this sounds interesting. Did they elaborate on the type of wasp or why they would sting a peach??
I didn't think to ask the why. I guessed it was red wasps because that is what was all around the trees, but they may not be the prob. I will run into him in town in the next few weeks and will ask him.
Decided to call the ag office and ask before I forget. The lady that was in said this year has been esp. bad in our area for peaches, grapes and tomatoes because of the drought. The wasps natural sugar sources are unavailable. Any wasp, yellow jacket and even bee will use the fruit.
She recommended getting sugar-water feeders that you use for bee hives and placing them away from your trees or vines. You can use preemergent spray or regular spray, but the hive will just continue to send out other workers, so you will be fighting a loosing battle.
should catch regular wasps too, since they aren't any different than their coloring.
I actually asked that question. Was told the pharemone (sp?) is different. What catches one will not catch the other.
always thought they were but they are closely related to the Hornet... Most interesting reading...
In some cases Tree services might be a good idea for get more useful information about it. You can always change your mind later.
http://treeandgardensolutions.com.au/residential-maintenance/gardening.html
