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 10:46 pm | Peaches/Nectarines
mary on 03 Feb 2009 at 4:26 pm #
Many years ago, I lost several peach trees to peach leaf curl. It is ugly. I stopped growing peaches as we are gone to Idaho July thru Aug. which is when the peaches ripened. I am wondering if there are peaches that get ripe earlier.
admin on 07 Feb 2009 at 11:02 pm #
Mary,
Yes, there are several peaches that ripen earlier than July. Royal Gold and May Pride are two examples of peaches that are listed as ripening in May, and there are several others that are listed as ripening in June. Carnival and Fairtime are examples of peaches that are listed as ripening in September. Check out this website for a list of peaches grown by the Dave Wilson nursery http://www.davewilson.com/br40/br40_trees/peaches.html.
mary on 10 Feb 2009 at 4:17 pm #
Hi
Thanks so much. I will check it out.
Mary