Gardening in England - Apple problem

Author

Apple problem

Pink

2004-09-08, 4:35 pm

I have a very small apple tree rescued from a skip about six years ago -
variety unknown but it produced lovely crisp sweet fruit, something like a
Cox. Last year it gave the largest crop yet - fifteen ! This year
though, despite the usual TLC, out of the eighteen that survived the gales,
cold etc., ten decent-sized fruits have hit the deck in the last few days.
All bearing signs of extensive tunelling. I havn't seen any wasps around
and I think they usually wait until the apples have fallen. Any ideas,
anyone?

Pinky.

dominic Lucas

2007-07-04, 5:25 pm

In article <cenofv$q0j$1@sparta.btinternet.com>,
"Pink" <Helen.Stabback-nospam@btinternet.com> wrote:

> I have a very small apple tree rescued from a skip about six years ago -
> variety unknown but it produced lovely crisp sweet fruit, something like a
> Cox. Last year it gave the largest crop yet - fifteen ! This year
> though, despite the usual TLC, out of the eighteen that survived the gales,
> cold etc., ten decent-sized fruits have hit the deck in the last few days.
> All bearing signs of extensive tunelling. I havn't seen any wasps around
> and I think they usually wait until the apples have fallen. Any ideas,
> anyone?
>
> Pinky.

Possible Sawfly lavae, but I would have thought they wouldn't do that
much damage. Wasps generally don't tullen, so you're looking for a
caterpiller/lavae or beetle ..

For sawfly, I use a greaseband on the tree, and dispose of all
leaves/fruit at the end of the season by burning. Fortunately this year
I've not had the problem, but I'm growing my apple in a pot to see if it
makes a difference!

Hope this helps

Dom

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