plum problem, and apple advice- for the master gardeners - Ask Extension
Hello-
1) I planted an Italian plum tree about four years ago and it has a lot of plums on it now. Last year, some of them had worms. This year quite...
Knowledgebase
plum problem, and apple advice- for the master gardeners #880640
Asked August 07, 2024, 10:49 PM EDT
Hello-
1) I planted an Italian plum tree about four years ago and it has a lot of plums on it now. Last year, some of them had worms. This year quite a few plums look from the outside as though there might be worms under their skin. But I have cut a couple open and the inside, still not ripe, looks ok. I don't see any worms or worm trails in there. Can you tell me what the problem is and a good treatment for worms, and or whatever this might be? Also, I do not see any entrance holes and drips- like I probably would if a worm ate its way in.
I am in south Eugene. I am a master gardener myself but new to fruit trees.
2) I have also planted a semi dwarf apple tree with four types of apples grafted onto it. I planted it in the spring this year. It has gravenstein, fiji, liberty and honeycrisp. It has three happy little apples growing on it this summer. No signs of any problems yet. Will I need to spray and/or put out traps to protect it from future scab and apple maggots?
Thanks much!
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
The damage seems limited to the skin of the fruit. This could be due to insect feeding, environmental damage. Could you bring the fruit to the Eugene OSU Lane Extension office at 10th and Jefferson? Experts there use microscopes and other tools to do a careful inspection. If the fruit seems to be just fine inside, you can also do a wait and see. This is likely just some scarring.
Yes, apples in our area do require spraying and/or trapping for pests and other care for apple scab etc.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-819-growing-tree-fruits-nuts-home-orchard
Yes, apples in our area do require spraying and/or trapping for pests and other care for apple scab etc.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-819-growing-tree-fruits-nuts-home-orchard