Peach Leaf Curl

[Westi]

Despite using copper treatment and nipping out the
first shoots, my peach trees have succumbed again.
It doesn't look quite as bad as last year as not so
much red tinge but I have loads of little fruit from
hand pollinating and would love to get some maturing.

I have an old book 'Gardener's Enquire Within' that says
spraying with potassium sulphide helps and gives the
recipe for liver of sulphur just mixed with soap and water.
Does anyone know what liver of sulphur is? or do they
have any other remedy I could try as obviously copper
treatment is ineffective. Probably won't save this years
crop but ready for next. Can't cover them as they are too
tall.

Westi

[loopie]

I've tried sprays with little luck, but what has worked this year is putting a plastic covering over the peach tree, I've now had only a few red leaves.

[poppingjay]

My little nectarine tree is in a pot in the polytunnel and all seems well. I've never grown one before and I was wondering when it would be safe to put it outside?

[bigpepperplant]

I too have got peach leaf curl on my outside Peregrine peach tree - too big to put plastic over. It's the second year I've had it. First year, I tried Bordeaux mixture twice, then picked off all the blistered leaves but all the little peachlets dropped off early. This year, it wasn't quite as bad and i didn't touch the leaves. So far, I've still got about 20 peaches that seem to be swelling nicely. So maybe they'll be ok. So take heart, perhaps trees can cope once they get big enough...

[Westi]

HI All

I think I have saved one tree not nearly as badly
affected but I think it is my white peach and I
really like the golden flesh ones - probably all in
the mind though. I still have fruit on the really
poorly tree and they are growing but it is a real
mess. I can't take any more leaves off but the
new leaves are still coming through and they are
unaffected for a while so still photsynthesising a
bit to help the tree. All I am doing to it is keeping
it well watered and it is fed well so fingers crossed
I will get at least one beautiful peach that will be
mine! (Sorry darling - there were no peaches!! )

Someone at lottie told me to mix the copper stuff with
less water and to paint it on so I will try that next
year; or prune harder and make it smaller so that I
can cover it but that might mean no fruit.

Westi

[Marken]

I know its not really applicable to those of you have already posted, but there is a new variety of peach that is resistant to peach leaf curl called Avalon Pride. It may be worth searching out if you are thinking of planting a new tree.

[Westi]

Hi Marken

Thanks for the reply. I will give it one more chance
and try to rig a cover for the early part of the year.
(Should be much easier as it is considerable shorter
than it was taking out the tips and really bad bits)

The fact that one has been saved with spraying is
encouraging so will give it one more chance. What
with my poorly pear I am beginning to wonder if I
shouldn't stay away from fruit starting with P - oh
I hope my plum is behaving (& Pineapple, Pomergranate,
Paw Paw - oops sorry wrong hemisphere!)

I have written that variety in my book for reference as
it is really bad so I might be being a tad over confident.

Thanks again - Westi