Hi I've been living at my home now for three years.A peach tree was there when i moved in.It's a med sized tree.It have fruits on it every year but it's not eatable.The peaches gets black spots on them and they split.Could you tell me why this is happening? |
Without actually seeing the problem, I can only venture an educated guess. It sounds like bacterial spot. Bacterial spot attacks the fruit, leaves, and current season's twigs. Fruit infections appear as tiny purple to black flecks on the fruit surface of peaches, and as water-soaked spots on nectarines and other smooth skinned Prunus spp. Later, the skin is broken and the flesh beneath the spot becomes sunken. Chemical sprays may help to reduce the levels of fruit and leaf infection. To be effective, spray applications must be applied before symptoms occur. The first spray is usually a copper compound applied just before tree growth resumes in the spring. This is followed by weekly applications of an antibiotic beginning at petal fall (alternating apllications of antibiotic and copper may be effective, also, although many stone fruits are sensitive to copper and injury from copper may be difficult to distinguish from damage caused by the pathogen). The 3-week period following petal fall is critical for early-season fruit infection and establishment of inoculum on new foliage. Rainfall during this period is favorable for infection. Look in your local garden center for fruit tree sprays and you should find just the right product to help protect your peach tree. Best wishes with your peach tree! |