Fruit Trees

It's easy to forget about fruit trees this time of year.  They've already bloomed, and the bees have already worked their magic and helped them to set fruit. Your trees may have clusters of hard, round fruits the size of grapes that will become apples or peaches in a few months. But while you wait for your harvest, here are a few things to think about:

Check the leaves for signs of disease. Fruit trees are prone to a wide variety of diseases, so if you see spots or leaf curl, the best thing to do is to pick a few leaves, seal them in a plastic bag, and bring them to the nursery for identification.  Minor infestations can usually be handled by picking off the affected leaves and throwing them away, but if you do need to try fungicide or other treatment, be sure and ask for an organic product as your first line of defense.

Watch out for pests. Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more exotic pest infestations, like the light brown apple moth infestation taking place in California.  Contact your county agricultural extension office if you see any unfamiliar pests on your trees.  Soft bodied insects can be controlled with a targeted spraying of Don’t Bug Me, and organic products like biopesticides with Bt can help control caterpillars.

Water and feed, water and feed.  The two go hand in hand.  Plants just can't access the fertilizer in the soil unless they have an adequate supply of water. Water deeply once a week. Try our Happy Frog Tomato and Vegetable to help ripen your crop, and use Big Bloom as a root drench to add essential nutrients. And then, stand back and wait.  It's almost harvest season!