This is what some of the leaves look like:
And a close up:
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| Curly leaves, leaves with bumps - what is wrong with our plum trees? |
In the meantime I have been painstakingly snipping of each of the odd-looking leaves and tossing them in the trash. I'm just concerned that when the tree gets larger I won' be able to reach the affected leaves, so woul like to try and sort it out now.
It doesn't seem to be affecting the fruit - the branches are happily full and growing well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/damsons_feature.shtml
ReplyDeleteYour Damson Tree Dave could be suffering from the plum leaf curling aphid which causes the leaves to become tightly curled, crumpled and distorted and on the underside of the leaves you will find pale yellow-green insects. The aphids suck the sap from the leaves and this causes the leaves to become distorted and during the early summer months the winged adults move on to alternative host plants but return to the Damsons during the autumn period to lay overwintering eggs at the base of the branches. There are no insecticides on the market which the amateur garden can use to control the aphids but, during the winter months a tar oil winter wash will reduce the overwintering eggs.
RD - The problem is I CANNOT find any insects at all - on any of the leaves. Not even with a magnifying glass LOL
Deletehttp://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/plum/control-leaf-curl-plum-aphids.htm
ReplyDeleteLeaf Curl Plum Aphid Treatments
You can apply cultural methods to control leaf curl plum aphids. Use quick hard blasts of water to rinse off the insects. Limit nitrogen fertilizers, which force the formation of tip growth, one of the insect’s favorite plant parts.
There are also several biological treatments in the form of natural predators. Lady beetles, green lacewings and syrphid fly larvae are another way to control plum aphids.
If necessary, use dormant season chemical treatments of horticultural oil. Severe aphid infestations require growing season applications of a leaf curl plum aphid treatment such as neem oil, imidacloprid, pyrethrins or non-toxic insecticidal soap.
RD - I will invest in come (very expensive) neem oil - always good to have in stock I guess.
Deletepsyllium? Peach leaf curl?
ReplyDeleteDiana - I reckon it is more psyllium than aphid, although I cannot see the white bloom that is supposed to cover the leaves. But, to be safe, I'll treat for both.
DeleteI agree it looks like aphids. We had it on our apple trees at a previous house. the neighbour stripped the tree of the leaves for us. I am trying to remember if this was to stop the spread or if it was something else. but he worked in cider press company before he retired so we let him do it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05511.html
Sol - As I mentioned above, I cannot ind any trace of aphids on any of the leaves. Merely the curl / bump / lump.
DeleteWhen I saw the title of your post I thought you were growing tobacco.
ReplyDeleteI'm no help with this question. Wish I knew more about horticulture , but I'm clueless.
Harry - Curly leaf = tabacco?? Kale springs to mind more than tobacco LOL
DeleteNo, we do not have a tobacco growing climate here in the southernmost part of South africa. I think tobacco is grown in Zimbabwe.
I'm going to third the aphids. Since the damage occurs at bud break, and you mentioned that it hasn't affected the fruiting, it sounds like they have already moved on, which is why you can't find them. Is there any sticky honeydew on the underside of the leaves? Sooty fungus? Both are hallmarks of aphid infestation.
ReplyDeleteDanielle - welcome - and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)
DeleteI have examined the leaves with a magnifying glass, and there is no trace of aphids - no sticky residue, definitely no black sooty fungus - nada!! It seems as though as the leaves appear - even the new teeny-tiny leaves still appearing - some of them show signs of lumpy bumps, and others are fine...