Spraying Peach/Nectarine Trees to Prevent Leaf Curl
On Friday, I sprayed my peach and nectarine trees with lime sulfur spray to control peach leaf curl. I also sprayed them in late December. I have been spraying my peach tree twice each winter while the tree is dormant since I planted it back in 2002, and it has never had more than a few leaves infected with leaf curl.
I used to use another chemical to control leaf curl. I switched to lime sulfur last winter, because I read that it is certified in organic growing. So far, lime sulfur has been very effective at controlling leaf curl in my yard. My mom has used it on her peach and nectarine trees for decades, and it has also worked well for her. I have read that some people in other parts of the country have not had as much luck with lime sulfur. However, there are several chemical sprays on the market for controlling peach leaf curl, and chances are that at least one of them will be effective.
I have heard people coming into our local nursery complaining about peach leaf curl in the spring. Unfortunately, it is too late to spray then. The spray needs to be applied at least once while the tree is dormant. I typically spray twice. In very wet years, I spray three times.
Now is the time to spray peach and nectarine trees to control the leaf curl fungus. I have read that the most important time to spray is just as the buds are beginning to swell, and before the blossoms open up. With all of the warm weather we have been having in the past month (today the high temperate neared 70 degrees again), the buds on my white nectarine tree are staring to swell (see above picture). I expect it to bloom before the end of February.
February 01 2009 | Peaches/Nectarines | 3 Comments »