To have insect-free peaches, you'll need to follow one of two approaches to control plum curculio, coddling moth, etc. Most growers spray with insecticide at least as strong as Malathion. This is safe when following the label directions, adhering to pre-harvest interval, etc. Optionally, some organic gardeners exclude the insects by tying a nylon footie around each piece of fruit. There are numerous threads about this on this forum. Good luck. Misterbaby.

Coddling Moth is a devil. From my experience nothing can stop teh dam thing. I hear in Seattle it drove some orchard owners out of business. They have some methods now to sterrilize the males so thay can not make the female eggs fertile. But I guess this is for big Commercial growers. I am planning to bag my beaches anf Plums fruits. It is not an easy task but what choice I have. I bag the grape punches to protect it from wasps and Birds. I have two question to the experts: 1) how can I bag cherries if one by one it is impossible. 2) can the Cuddling Moss infect Apricot and Figs. Appreciate answer.
Abe

The right pesticide will control CM for the home grower with proper timing. Where did you here of growers going out of business because of it- they've been dealing with it for decades.

Monkey, it sounds like you have plum curculio since they go to the center of the fruit. If the fruits are falling off early thats what you have. If they are making it to harvest but are full of worms you have oriental fruit moth (codling moth doesn't attack peaches). You may well have both of them since they are very common pests.

Whomever told you to use neem to control these problems was clearly not speaking from experience. I have found neem to have only minor effect on any insect pest except for aphids and the like which it does do something for. The only organic method for getting around these pests is to use Surround. It is a clay product which irritates the bugs, its not toxic. But you need to keep your fruits coated all summer which means re-applying after every significant rain, and every few weeks if there is no rain. Also for the oriental fruit moth they will infest the tips of your shoots and you need to prune off any shoot that is infected. You can also bag peaches with cotton bags, I have had success doing that.

Scott

Scott
If I am not into organic thing and I need effective spray for peaches which spray do you recommend.
And yes some Orchard growers were driven out of business in Seattle because of Cuddling Moth. But now the science advanced to control it. I read the article in Nature Magazine. It was about Organic and growing Apple. As they mentioned in the Article they found the only effective way is to render the male impotent.

Foolishpleasure,

The most effective homeowner spray for both curc and Oriental Fruit moth is Triazicide Once and Done.

If any commercial apple growers were driven out of business because of CM, it was because they were unwilling to spray. CM can be effectively controlled through spray in all apple growing parts of the world. Some nature magazines aren't the most reliable sources of information.

Years ago I read Russia was successfully using sterile males to control coddling moth. I don't know if they are still using that method.

Has anyone else tried beneficial nematodes against Codling Moth and Plum Curlico?
This will be my second year using these tactics, the jury is still out on the Plum cure. Last season I didn't find any moth damage of my apples.
Hopefully I have found the answer. Should work, as CM spend the winter in the soil, so nematodes should 'get them' preventing growth in the spring.

Thank you all for your advice. It is HARD to be organic and have peach trees!! I've stopped the Neem since I apparently was talking to someone without knowledge. Will try one of the recommendations in the thread. Here's to peach cobbler (I hope)!!

DEAR SIR
I TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH ,ONLY
MOST OF MY PEACHES HAVE BEEN HARVESTED BEFORE THE DAMAGE
IS DONE ,BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO HAVE THE REMAININNG 20%
OF MY CROP ,ANY SUGGESTIONS .....................