Need help with my peach trees - Ask Extension
I have 2 dwarf peach trees. I think the variety is Vivid. I had a LOT of blossoms the year and MANY peaches. I read that I should thin them to ensure...
Knowledgebase
Need help with my peach trees #830419
Asked May 16, 2023, 5:05 PM EDT
I have 2 dwarf peach trees. I think the variety is Vivid. I had a LOT of blossoms the year and MANY peaches. I read that I should thin them to ensure the fruits get to a good size and to take some weight off the branches. While removing some of the tiny peaches I found several with this kind of damage. It looks to me like something is eating them but I’m not sure. This is the first time I’ve noticed it.
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- this looks like some type of physical injury like rubbing rather than insect or animal feeding. We suggest stripping off all of the fruit if the tree was planted last year or this year. If the tree is older, thin fruits to create a 4-5 inch space between remaining fruits.
Here are some web pages on two common peach fruit insect pests:
Plum curculio
Plum curculio
Oriental fruit moth
Jon
Here are some web pages on two common peach fruit insect pests:
Plum curculio
Plum curculio
Oriental fruit moth
Jon
Thanks for your reply. We planted our peach trees three years ago. I thinned out the peaches and will watch for further damage. Do you have recommendations for keeping the birds from eating the fruit?
thank you!
Hi-
1. drape it with bird netting or tulle build a structure using wood, PVC, or electrical conduit, and then drape it. Birds sometimes get tangled in bird netting and netting held tight to the ground can trap and injure snakes. Hanging "visual scare devices" like shiny objects, flash tape, and streamers, can help but birds often get used to them.
2. protect individual fruits with mesh or paper bags. This is becoming more common for peach and apple growers. Here are some links to information:
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/peach/commercial/diseases/clemsonfruitbags.html
https://www.phillyorchards.org/2015/07/02/bagging-fruit/
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef218
There are a bunch of YouTube videos on using netting and bagging techniques.
3. harvest before peaches start to soften:
https://communityenvironment.unl.edu/harvesting-peaches-apricots
Jon
1. drape it with bird netting or tulle build a structure using wood, PVC, or electrical conduit, and then drape it. Birds sometimes get tangled in bird netting and netting held tight to the ground can trap and injure snakes. Hanging "visual scare devices" like shiny objects, flash tape, and streamers, can help but birds often get used to them.
2. protect individual fruits with mesh or paper bags. This is becoming more common for peach and apple growers. Here are some links to information:
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/peach/commercial/diseases/clemsonfruitbags.html
https://www.phillyorchards.org/2015/07/02/bagging-fruit/
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef218
There are a bunch of YouTube videos on using netting and bagging techniques.
3. harvest before peaches start to soften:
https://communityenvironment.unl.edu/harvesting-peaches-apricots
Jon
Thank you again Jon. I really appreciate your help!
