Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 24, 1994 TAG: 9404250174
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: John Arbogast
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: My first diagnosis would be disease, particularly the fungal problem called brown rot. However, because you did not mention any rotting of the developing nectarines and because your peaches, which also are susceptible to brown rot disease, do fine, I'd have to guess that the failure must be because of some physical cause or causes. Let me explain some possibilities, not in priority order of probability, for you to consider and then discuss with your local Craig County Extension Office in New Castle at 864-5812.
Peach and nectarine trees are related and are usually linked in fruit-growing situations. Thus, if weather was responsible for preventing your nectarine crop, I would expect that adjacent peaches would be similarly affected.
Repeated fruit failure could be evidence that your nectarines are simply weak trees, unable to hold and ripen even a small crop. Look at the amount of new shoot growth your trees produce in the spring and also the amount of leaves they produce and hold. Leaves all receive sunlight, go through photosynthesis and manufacture food. Therefore, a small number of leaves means that the plant will only have limited food-making capabilities, not enough to support a normal fruit crop.
You didn't mention how long the nectarine trees have been planted, but one obvious solution for weak trees of any kind is to start over with new, properly planted trees in another suitable location.
The problem also could be linked to a nutrient deficiency. This could be caused by a problem in the soil where the nectarine trees are planted. Have a soil test run. However, the nutrient dilemma could be with the nectarine trees themselves if they are weak and just not able to take the nutrients that are already present in the soil.
Another possibility is that the trees were not planted properly. Planting too deep or root injury in planting come to mind. However, I realize that because peach trees are growing on the property, the person in charge likely knew what they were doing and shouldn't have messed up with the nectarines.
A final possibility is that there is a soil problem that affects the nectarines but not the peaches. This could be rocks or a hard soil layer eight inches or so from the surface that has limited the root growth, or it could be a droughty soil that just won't hold sufficient moisture to sustain the fruit during early to midsummer heat. Investigate this possibility by sticking a pointed shovel into the ground in the nectarine area; do this in the peach area for comparison; difficulty in pushing the shovel more than a few inches into the soil could indicate trouble. Again, to resolve this possibility, select a better location and plant new nectarine trees at the proper time.
Q: Because chestnut trees are known to be high in acid, would the burrs be a good mulch for acid-loving plants such as rhododendron and azaleas? E.D., Fries
A: The Chinese Chestnut prefers a moderately acid soil with pH of 5.5 to 6.5, but that doesn't mean that those prickly burrs will be acidic. However, if you have plenty of those burrs and won't mind the appearance, they can be raked up and used for mulch around your azaleas and rhododendrons.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. We need your mail, but this column can't reply to all letters. Those of wide appeal will be answered each week. Personal replies cannot be given. PLEASE DON'T SEND STAMPS, STAMPED ENVELOPES, SAMPLES OR PICTURES.
Orchid show and sale scheduled
The Blue Ridge Orchid Society will conduct its annual Show and Sale this week at Valley View Mall in Roanoke. The show will be open to the public from noon until 9 p.m. on Thursday and during regular mall hours on Friday and Saturday.
Gardener's checklist
Jobs for late April:
Thin young fruits of apples, pears and peaches to ensure larger, healthier fruit. Thin within 25 days of the peak bloom, leaving four to six inches between fruit.
In shaping young fruit trees, round hardwood toothpicks or clothespins are very useful for the early and important job of limb spreading. Simply insert the toothpicks between the trunk and branch to force the latter to grow outward at about a 60 degree angle rather than upright.
Raspberry canes can be pruned and thinned now. Removal of excessive canes at ground level will improve air circulation and light penetration for heavier fruiting. All dead tips of the canes should be cut off.
by CNB