I also got a touch of damage when it warmed up into the 70s few days ago. I have too many spores around from a major outbreak last year. I sprayed streptomycin for the first time ever when I saw that little bit, and it has not subsequently spread. This is the earliest I ever saw it, only a few apples have bloomed now.

Scott

I am in southern Michigan and I think my apple trees may have this problem. It "seems" to match the picture. On the Winesaps and the Granny Smiths there are small black bugs there too. All of my trees seem to have it, at least a little bit. Is there anything I can do. They all blossomed but there is no fruit on any of them.

Thanks for any help.

Make sure you understand the difference between fire blight and ordinary non-pollination. With fire blight, the limp blossoms stay firmly attched to the tree; non-pollinated ones dry up and easily brush off. The fire blight will spread next to the tiny leaves you see in the photo (which die but also stay firmly attached) and work its way down the branch. The amber drops of ooze are also telltale signs.

A bout of dry, 100+ degree weather knocked fire blight out for the season here, as it cannot stand weather much over 94 degrees. Pacific flathead borers is the next onslaught.

Applenut

Thanks applenut,

The 3 yr old Winesap that has it the worst (looks like the photo above) has few leaves and though it had a couple of apples last year, this year the blossoms are gone and the leaves are are turning reddish brown and shriveling up. Is there a way to tell for sure what I should do? (if anything) I only have a few (7) Apple trees, a few (3)Plum trees and a few (3) Cherry trees, so I'd hate to loose any of them. Is there a particular fruit-tree website or even a book I should get to educate me a little as to the upcoming problems we'll be facing?

Thanks for any help.

Sokuzan:

I'd start a new thread with your problem and post a photo if possible; we're relatively disease-free here, and you should get input from a damper climate where they mess with it all day.

Applenut