Hello all, I've asked for advice on this problem elsewhere with no response yet,so I thought I'd try here.(Everyone seems to have a lot of good responses to their questions-perhaps I will get some too!) Anyways,last year we planted a bunch of fruit trees around our property which were all doing fine despite the cicada problem of last year until a couple weeks ago-my two lovely peach trees started to develop yellow and bright red leaves.One tree has lost a great deal of it's foliage.I've been spraying with a copper soap,but we've had alot of rain lately. Is this bacterial spot? What can I do? Are there resistant varieties? Will my trees survive this? Sorry to be so wordy! Thanks to all who read and especially to those who respond.~Tracy Jo p.s.I prefer to treat problems organically if possible.

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), June 01, 2000

Answers

This does not sound like any disease that I am familiar with. It almost sounds as if the trees are about to shed their leaves! You may want to check for peach tree borer holes near the base of the tree. You may have been infested late last year and the damage is now becomming more apparent. If this is the problem, I do not know of an organic solution. They are an internal pest and very difficult to control. Good luck!

-- joe lehnen (joetree@shentel.net), June 01, 2000.

I would say look around the base of the trees and see if rabbits have been nibbling on them at the bottom. I would also take some chickens out and let them peck around there. If you have borers, which can be seen by spots exuding sap, The best treatment is chickens in the fall/winter, followed by a dose of chewing tobacco at the base of the tree. Dig this in around the trunk. This is organic, but it is one of the more toxic choices. Of course, people smoke the stuff for years and still sometimes never get sick. I personally prefer tobacco to chemicals. Never use tobacco on vegetable crops as it can carry diseases that could make your plants sick.

Little bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), June 01, 2000.

Does it look like this?

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/Fruit/fdin013/leafcur2.jpg

If it does....here's an solution.....albiet not organic...

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/Fruit/fdin013/leafcurl.htm

Copper seems to be the answer...I've never used copper "soap"...just liquid copper...blue...smelly..and stains everything! But it does work! This is an excellent site for vegetable and fruit problems.

Jason

-- Jason (AJAMA5@netscape.net), June 02, 2000.

Thanks everyone, I checked this morning for borers& rabbit damage:none. I also printed a copy of the picture Jason sent and took it out with me.The color is similar to the infected leaves,but my leaves don't seem to be near as crickled(slightly so:yes). Thanks also for the borer remedies.I hope I never have to use them though!! We'd like to plant some more trees next year.Does anyone know of resistant varieties or ways to prevent these sorts of problems? Thanks again,TJ

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), June 02, 2000.

I don't know about your area, but in Okla. you can send a sample of the dammaged tree to Okla. State Univ. & they will tell you what is wrong & how to cure it. Contact the land grant college in your state.

-- Okie-Dokie (www.tommycflinstone@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

Tracy, I'm well north of peach growing areas, but I do know peach trees often get fungus. Other than that, the closest I can find to what you describe is peach leaf curl disease, but it is described as a pink color. What I'm wondering about is the copper spray, peaches are sensitive to copper. It may either have caused your problem or is making it worse.

I'd suggest you get a foliage sample identified locally at the county extension office or a greenhouse, listen politely to their treatment suggestions, and get home to your computer before buying anything. In the meantime, clean up and destroy any fallen foliage or fruit, and if you do any pruning (probably not a great idea right now) be sure to disinfect your hands and cutters before moving to the next tree.

You say you've had a lot of rain, could the peach trees be in a low spot or in bad holes that are keeping them too wet? That could account for at least the yellowing of the leaves. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), June 03, 2000.

I think the answer is to spray with dormant spray two or three times in the winter just before the buds come out. If it is still too cold to go out and garden then it is just the right time to be spraying your trees with dormant spray. It is a sulphur oil based fungicide that stays on the trees for a week or two. The trick is to have a good coat on the tree before the little black flies lay there eggs in the spring.

-- Ted Milson (emilson@yesic.com), June 05, 2001.

It does sound like leaf curl. We get it every year. Dormant oil spraying is supposed to stop it from happening but we still get it. You just have to use a fungicide regurlary and after every rain. There are organic products out there to use. We keep our trees sprayed well and get a great peach crop every year. Good luck, Joanie

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), June 05, 2001.