Neglected fruit trees disappointing

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 7

Neglected fruit trees disappointing

GARDENING

by

M. Lusty

Peaches and nectarines are very popular stone fruit which are widely grown in many home gardens. In spite of a’ good range of newer cultivars having increased the range of choice, many of the older varieties, such as Golden Queen, continue to be as much in demand as ever. However, apart from one form of dwarf peach and a similar such nectarine, there is as yet no dwarfing rootstock commonly available. This means that trees of this type may reach quite

large proportions, particularly when not pruned. There also remains the constant problem of disease, and to a much lesser extent pest, which must be contended with if satisfactory cropping is to be achieved each year. Lack of proper attention to these two very important cultural aspects is the cause of so much disappointment for most home growers of these two fruits. It is essential to understand that both peach and

nectarine produce their fruit only on one-year-old wood, that is on the shoots which developed in the previous growing season. It also means that growth habit and flowering characteristics gradually increase the size of the tree, with preponderance of young growth developing on ’ the outer extremities, while the lower and inner structure becomes progressively more barren. Site and cultivar will influence the size and rapidity of this development, but unless pruning is resorted to all trees of these kinds will finish up in the same pattern. The benefit and objective of pruning these trees on a regular, annual basis is to

restrict size, encourage maximum fruitfulness, and at the same time foster new growth from the lower regions of the tree. This is achieved by removing at least one third of the growth each year, and by cutting back a proportion of well-positioned new shoots to wood buds to stimulate new growth. Wood buds are easily distinguishable from fruit buds as they are thin and pointed where the latter are more plump. Fruit buds often occur in pairs, sometimes with a wood bud sandwiched between them. ■' Each tree will have to be treated on its own merits, depending on.such factors as the cultivar, growth made and the vigour of the tree. However, the most important step to take is to first of all cut out all dead, diseased, or broken limbs, especially any cankered or gummy ones. Branches which exhibit such evidence may be infected by blast or brown rot, two of the most prevalent and persistent diseases of these fruit trees, particularly on the older neglected ones. Mummified. fruit-hard,

blackened remains of last year's crop, will be also indicative of brown rot. As they also act as disease carriers, they should be picked off — not pulled off and allowed to drop to the ground — and buried. Stone fruit is very susceptible to silver leaf infection, which is the reason why progressively more commercial growers are now pruning their trees in the late autumn instead of in the winter. Peaches and nectarines are also easily damaged by blunt and badly operated tools. As soon as pruning has been completed, apply a thorough, over-all, full strength spray of lime-sul-phur, Bordeaux mixture, or copper oxychloride. When ,vou are applying whichever one of these recommended preparations, make sure that tips of the shoots receive adequate coverage. The treatment should be repeated at bud movement, a vital period for the control of such a constant and troublesome disease as leaf curl, as well as several others.