Protecting fruit on Honey Crisp apple trees - Ask Extension
Hello, I have two dwarf Honey Crisp trees. We have about 70+ apples on the trees. In the past, when there were fewer apples, I have used the "m...
Knowledgebase
Protecting fruit on Honey Crisp apple trees #874667
Asked June 25, 2024, 4:06 PM EDT
Hello, I have two dwarf Honey Crisp trees. We have about 70+ apples on the trees. In the past, when there were fewer apples, I have used the "maggot barriers", a stocking-like cover tied on to each apple. But, with this many apples, is there another way to protect the growing fruit from fly larvae and squirrels? Or, if I do nothing, will I still be able to harvest some good fruit? You can see from the photos that the tree canopies are somewhat large, which makes me think that a mesh cover may be hard to get around the entire tree. If mesh is recommended, where do I get it?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
You can nstall smooth metal wrapping around the tree trunk to prevent squirrels from climbing. To prevent diseases and fly larvae, follow proper sanitation by regularly destroying fallen fruit regularly. This helps disrupt the life cycle. You can also try
organic treatments like neem oil or use
sticky traps to catch adult flies before they lay eggs.. Netting is helpful; search online for a net large enough to cover your tree. There are several sizes available.
Some sources advise that you might be able to salvage and eat some fruit from an infected Honeycrisp apple tree, but the U of Mn advises against doing this. It is important to prevent the disease and take good care of your tree to maintain tree health and fruit quality in the long term.
For more information, see:
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples#insects-1143610
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/apple-maggot
organic treatments like neem oil or use
sticky traps to catch adult flies before they lay eggs.. Netting is helpful; search online for a net large enough to cover your tree. There are several sizes available.
Some sources advise that you might be able to salvage and eat some fruit from an infected Honeycrisp apple tree, but the U of Mn advises against doing this. It is important to prevent the disease and take good care of your tree to maintain tree health and fruit quality in the long term.
For more information, see:
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples#insects-1143610
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/apple-maggot
