PEACH LEAF CURL

Leaf curl is a fungal disease that is quite common in peach trees, but will also affect other stone fruits such as nectarines, apricots and almonds. The fungal spores of the disease lie dormant on the tree’s bark and then infection begins at bud burst. The first signs are seen on the new leaf growth; leaves start out a paler green colour and quickly begin to curl. As it develops, the leaves turn a pinky-purple, followed by a white bloom on their surface, and finally they fall off the tree.

Unfortunately, peach leaf curl can also affect the fruit, restricting their growth and causing them to drop before ripening. The tree will keep growing, but will seriously weaken if the disease is not controlled. Unfortunately (again), by the time the symptoms are noticed it’s too late for significant control measures to be applied that year. Treatment needs to be applied just prior to bud burst in spring, so get out your veggie patch calendar and make an important note for next year. But, what to do now?

Peach leaf curl does not mean a year of stone fruit abstinence, because a little more care and nurturing now can salvage some results. However, it’s a prolonged effort to put the tree back into its full swing and that means being more organised and diligent than you otherwise would.