Hi MrsG47-
Hello to a fellow Rhode Islander! I'm in Wakefield... you? I used to be quite active in this formum (see my MyPage), but life got in the way over the last 6 months. I'll be on more as we head into springtime.

Harvestman is right of course, those are some of the best weapons out there. Having not followed your history, I'm not sure what fruit your spraying. Assuming apples, I've found that Immunox and Triazicide are incredible. I only use the Monterey Fungus Fighter on my peaches to prevent brown rot. I do have a stockpile of Imidan just in case I ever need it, but I've found the Triazicide was able to handle my pests just fine, without resorting to the (IMHO stronger, and makes-me-slightly-nervous) Imidan. I also spray AgriStrep to ward off Fireblight which I've had small hits of over the years.

As for when to spray the Immunox, Harvestman taught me: Once at petal fall, and once 10-14 days later. Because all my trees are at slightly different stages, at different times, sometimes I'll turn this into 3 sprays instead of 2. But, with those 2 or 3 sprays, I've been able to completely defeat my nemisis CAR.

As for the Triazicide, I'll usually mix some in with my last spray of Immunox. This is to keep out any of the PC and other critters before I bag my apples, so that's really about the only time I have to spray it.... except...

Believe it or not, I do have a problem with aphids. Everyone says how weak aphids are (wash 'em off with a hose, etc), but even with repeated sprays of Sevin, I can't seem to get them under control. So, sometimes mid season, I'll get frustrated with poor-Sevin results, and then nuke 'em with Triacizide. Some will say that's overkill but, again, I get sick of poor results with my other attempts.

Don't forget a nice dormant oil spray as well!

This year I need to come up with a solution for my sooty blotch and fly speck. Yes, I know they're mostly cosmetic and they wash off, but when a few of my varieties are 60 black due to SB/FS, even after scrubbing, they still seem just a bit less palatable.

Best Regards,
-Glenn

Mrs. G,

I'd go with Hman's advice as outlined by Glenn. Like many, Glenn has worked from failure to success, but has the advantage for you to be in your neck of the woods.

We get more pest pressure here in eastern KS.

Evidently, Glenn and Hman hardly notice Oriental Fruit moth. Coddling moth is also hardly mentioned. Both of those are major pests here. Additionally, it takes more than 2-3 sprays here to nip plum curc.

You've been suggested the right materials to use and I recommend starting out with the 2-3 spray program and see if it works for you. MFF is a good product for brown rot and the timing suggested is also correct.

I'd only add you scout closely to make sure OFM and 2nd generation Coddling moth don't become major issues for you because the 2-3 spray program doesn't really address them.

I'm in Z6 with some clients all the way to Z7 and pest pressure is certainly a regionally affected issue. I believe when you get down as far as Maryland PC may have another generation and OFM becomes much more of a fruit attack issue (instead of just damaging the growing tips of peach shoots). I do get some coddling moth damage- especially on Asian pears and sweet russeted apples, but in almost all sites around here the damage is not bad enough to require more than two insecticide sprays unless Jap beetles become intolerable.

I have found that plum curculio has not come around here before last apples drop their petals even if fruitletts of earlier flowering varieties and species may be theoretically vulnerable. This may just be a long stretch of good luck, but it certainly involves over 20 years at lots of sites.

A former Rhode Islander (25+ years) here too.. (Lincoln)

a neighbor of mine just moved last year and when the new people moved in, they asked about the trees in their front yard. (2 pest and disease magnet fruit trees, a cherry and an apple) the wife wanted the husband to cut down the apple and leave the cherry (and had me id them, which I accurately did). He did just the opposite and his wife made him then cut the other one down.

I gave up spraying my apples because it was a pretty lost cause. My cherries were worth the effort, so they did get attention.

now hopefully I'll get some apples with reasonable attention... :)

~Chills (and yes, I do have plenty of Autocrat on stock...though I do get a hankering for strip pizza when parties start in the late spring.... there's just no good alternative)

Hi Glenn, and thanks so much to you, "H"-man and Chills for all of your input. I live in Newport. I have a bit over an acre of land and planted my three year old trees four years ago. If you click on 'my page' you'll see the variety of trees that I have. I am going through PC paranoia (lol) because all that I have read about them is truly ugly. I admire your raspberry trellis! I need one as a new bed of Caroline is going in this spring. I have many berries as well, currants of all types and many raspberries and strawberries. My spray schedule is now on track. I also noticed that this year 'Raintree' added five pound bags of surround to their catalogue for the small orchardist, which is perfect.

Hi MrsG47-
I'm over in Newport all the time for my volleyball club. Great place.

As for PC and CM, I'm sure they are here, but with my one pre-bagging spray, and then the bagging, I've only ever loss one apple due to CM, as was evident by the frass.

I may actually try something new this year with my favorite weapon: Immunox. I may give the raspberries a few sprays of it. This because I had a pretty good case of orange rust last year, which I'd like to avoid this year. Let me know if you ever need some other varieties of raspberries! (at least the ones that don't require royalties anyway).

Best regards,
-Glenn

Thanks so much Glenn. I think I'm all set for raspberries right now. I already have six varieties. Do you bag with 'footies'? Mrs. G

Hi MrsG47-

You can never have too many raspberries! I think I'm up around 18 or 19 varieties of brambles at this point!

I bag with plastic sandwich bags, cut off above the pleat, V-cut in the pleat, bottom corners cut off for drainage.

Best,
-Glenn