You might want to try Kocide or Tribasic Copper. Losing trees to fireblight is an awful experience, but sometimes it can be a learning experience. You might want to replace any trees that die with resistant cultivars.

Thanks! I just found out today that I am too late to spray my peaches, the plum curiculos already have taken up residence. Oh well, I guess I can eat around the worm, and spray next year. I'll have to shell out for the Imaden and hit the peaches and plums earlier.

This learning curve is really steep!!! Ouch!! Thanks for the help! -Susana

Susana:

Raising peaches is tough, and in many areas requires very close attention, especially early in the season just after fruit set. I don't know how large your trees are, or whether it is your usual practice to thin and inspect the peaches after they begin to form, but that is what you have to do.

Plum curculio seems to be the earliest insect threat to peaches, but not the only one. It is quickly followed by the oriental fruit moth, which, unlike PC, can have several generations throughout the growing season. Imidan is effective against both these insects, but so is Permethrin, which is more widely available.

I suggest you go out to your peach trees, get up on your ladder (if necessary), and inspect all the little peaches for signs of insect penetration. Those that have it should go into a bucket and out in the trash. If there are any undamaged peaches left, make sure they are spaced at least 6-8 inches apart, then spray the trees. If the interior branches are crowded, or if there is a lot of top growth cutting off sunlight to the peaches, prune it off. Peaches grow best when kissed by the sun, and insects love to operate in a busy, crowded tree. It will not injure your peach trees to prune them now. I always prune mine immediately after the final thinning.

You will not want to eat peaches damaged by insects, since they become a mushy, brown mess around the pits when they stay on the trees. Often, they fall off before fully ripe.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Susana:

I should have started a new thread when dealing with this peach question, which is distinct from fireblight on apples. If you post again, you may want to do this. Keeps things a little bit organized.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Susana, carefully look over your trees every day now and prune out any wilted-looking growths -- don't wait until they turn black. Over the years I have learned how to identify fireblight before the shoot has even started bending over, so I can get it outta there. Also spray streptomycin every four or so days for the next couple of weeks.

Scott

Thanks Don, Scott, SomeguyinMaine!

I will do the inspection and spraying of the infected pears; does fireblight just affect pome fruit or does it get stone fruit and berries too?

I always heard peach production is intensive- the trees are big enough for producing peaches (just over head-high) so I'm gearing up for the battle!

Thanks again, Susana

Susana, the only trees on your list that are susceptible to fire blight are pears, apples and serviceberry-pome fruits in the Rosacea family.