Page 1 of 1[1]
Apple tree that the worms just LOOOOOOOOVE
| Member | Message |
|---|---|
 |
Posted: Mar/18/2008 8:26 PM PST
I have a beautiful Fuji apple tree I bought for my husband when we redid our backyard a few years back. It has grown wonderfully, and is a very pretty tree... but the worms always eat our apples. I haven't been able to enjoy a single fruit from this tree. Last year I inquired with a local nursery about what we could do to quell the tide of worms that seem to attack it each summer, and the man suggested spraying the tree with something after it blooms. I'm always leery of insecticides on something that produces food... so I was wondering if anyone here has had luck with a safe product to use on an apple tree. I really want to eat some apples this fall without paying almost $2 a lb. for them at the store.. that just infuriates me when I have a tree full of wormy ones here at home! Thanks 
|
 |
Posted: Mar/19/2008 6:48 AM PST
Where was I reading something about putting plastic baggies over fruit?  It sounds like it wouldn't work, but they've had good results with this method. When the fruit is a certain size (I think it said golf ball size), tie a bag over it so that water won't get in and rot it. That won't be too much of a problem with our dry Oregon summers. Fujis are early apples, aren't they? |
 |
Posted: Mar/19/2008 12:54 PM PST
are you in zone 5 or??? as fer the question is there something non toxic to humans but worms dont like?? or if the worms come from the ground couldnt you wrap the trunk with something plastic that would deter the worms??? (thinkin outside the box an dont know apple trees too well) |
|
|
Posted: Mar/20/2008 10:52 PM PST
I'm in zone 7b. As for when Fujis ripen.. sadly, I'm not sure since mine are always full of worms. The bag idea sounds interesting... and time consuming.. and something I could really screw up. lol Maybe I'll try it on a few this year and see, if I don't end up spraying. I also like the idea of wrapping the trunk. I know we used to wrap our cherry tree trunk in some sticky tape stuff that kept the ants out of my cherries. I'm not sure how the worms get to the apples (without knowing much about them) but I'm wondering if they could be brought to them as eggs from some sort of fly (totally going out on a limb, no pun intended, with that theory). It couldn't hurt to try the trunk wrap idea though! Thanks for the suggestions! |
|
|
Posted: Mar/26/2008 11:15 AM PST
try many doifferent methods youll find the best then |
 |
Posted: Mar/26/2008 11:55 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by sweetlebee Where was I reading something about putting plastic baggies over fruit? It sounds like it wouldn't work, but they've had good results with this method. When the fruit is a certain size (I think it said golf ball size), tie a bag over it so that water won't get in and rot it. That won't be too much of a problem with our dry Oregon summers. Fujis are early apples, aren't they? I thought I saw something about this also.. was it to keep them from freezing?? |
 |
Posted: Mar/26/2008 5:19 PM PST
I think you told me about it sweetle. You said it would keep my citrus from freezing. Or did you say spray 'em with water so they don't freeze? Yikes, now i'm confused too. never mind. 
|
|
|
Posted: Mar/26/2008 6:17 PM PST
  Hey, whadda I know? The only fruit I grow is strawberries.  The bags keep insects away from the fruit. You spray citrus with water to protect it from freezing. |
 |
Posted: Mar/27/2008 12:47 PM PST
sweetle, I can sympathize with your problem here. I have similar problems with mine further down the valley. Odds are you're dealing with a codling moth, or the apple maggot. In either case, they can be controlled with methods other than the "nuclear" one. There are horticultural oils that can be sprayed prior to bud break that are not harmful but smother the developing pests before they "hatch". Another solution is to trap the adults with pheromone traps before they have a chance to lay their eggs on the fruit> There is an online publication from OSU called PNW Insect Management Handbook. There, you could see if there's a stage in the life cycle that is easiest to attack or could be attacked with benign methods. Fritz |
Page 1 of 1[1]
Read Next Discussion
