Fruit trees 2020: Ready, set ...

Wash and Cover!

The pruning’s done - hot dry summer for plums and earlier in the winter for apples and pears. Depending on the type of fruit tree, I also wash and/or cover them to set them up for the growing season. Yes, I:

(1) WASH! That’s right, wash - with Vitax Winter Tree Wash or other similar barrier solution.

I used the wash for the first time in winter 2018 and I am convinced that it contributed to a major reduction in insect pest problems during the 2019 growing season, particularly noticeable on my cherry trees and elder bushes.

November gone, I sprayed all of my fruiting trees and bushes (except 1 blueberry bush which was and STILL IS in leaf … how come?) with tree wash. I plan to spray again well before bud-swell, which seems to be starting earlier and earlier in London. It is organic and safe, if mildly whiffy, with a smell of fish oil. I must remember to take my coat off or wear a hooded waterproof raincoat next time. I might have gone a little overboard with the spraying and my coat and hair ended up reeking off the stuff! Popped the coat in the wash. Sorted.

(2) COVER! This applies to fruit trees that are not hardy such as Citrus and Pomegranate. It also applies to members of the Prunus family - peaches, nectarines, almonds and some apricots - that are susceptible to the dreaded Peach Leaf Curl, which is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. I have a number of peach and nectarine trees, all but two of which are on dwarfing root stocks. The non-dwarfs are young Peche de Vignes on semi-vigorous root St Julien A root stock. Many have been affected, to different degrees, each year by Peach Leaf Curl.

I am working towards being fully organic, but I confess that out of sheer desperation, I applied Bordeaux Mixture (purchased before the ban came in) to the dwarfs in 2018, but I might have done so too late. All but one succumbed, as was the case the previous year. I’m done with the Bordeaux Mixture.

Here’s the one dwarf Prunus persica ‘Diamond’ that managed to shrug off the dreaded disease in 2018 and actually gave me some delicious sweet peaches. It was in a container at that time.

2018: My Prunus persica ‘Diamond’ in good health.

2019 was a disaster. This year I have decided to try covering the trees with transparent sheeting and a large cloche. We had some storms with high winds recently. Dishearteningly, the sheeting was blown off one Peche de Vigne and it’s been thoroughly rained and hailed on since, but all of the other covers are still in place (fingers tightly crossed!).

I have noticed some condensation building up in places where the sheeting has contact with the beanches. I need to correct that. I know the fungal spores need moisture to do their thing, and condensation is moisture. Help!

Not pretty, but I hope it does the trick … I WANT peaches and nectarines! See what I mean about the condensation? I need to improve the air circulation under the sheeting. The partially open (but sheltered) cloche seems to be OK.

I’ll dust myself down, take a deep breath, and have another go at covering the exposed Peche de Vigne tree this week. I fear the damage may have already been done, but I’ll try again.

As for the others, so far so good. I just need to make sure the covers stay in place until EARLY MAY? (yikes!!). I really don’t want to see the leaves blistering and the beautiful blossom coming to naught - again.

I don’t expect the Peche de Vignes to fruit for another year or two, but a few nectarines and peaches from the dwarfs would be nice. Let’s see.