• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • Pearl Sutton
  • paul wheaton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Anne Miller
  • Nicole Alderman
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Maieshe Ljin
  • Benjamin Dinkel
  • Jeremy VanGelder

Cedar Apple Rust (spring planning early)

 
Posts: 12
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have a Honeycrisp apple tree that has been devestated the last couple years by Cedar Apple Rust.  The first couple years I seemed to have some luck with a spray and was able to get some delicious apples.  Has anyone had any luck with specific fungicide sprays?  Unfortunately if I can't get the tree to be healthy in 2019 I will remove for a more resistant variety or completely different fruit tree.  The idea of pulling a tree that you put several years into is disappointing.

Thanks  
 
gardener
Posts: 6814
Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5
1657
hugelkultur dog forest garden duck fish fungi hunting books chicken writing homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
The fungus lives in the soil over the winter so you will need to remove all leaf materials within a 30 foot radius just to be sure you get as much as possible.
Next you want to use a good batch of compost tea to soak that cleared area, this should put enough good microorganisms into the soil to eradicate the fungus, also spray the tree trunk and all branches.
If in doubt, do multiple soakings with your good, aerated compost tea, saving the fungicide as the last resort (early spring).

It's also a good idea to get rid of any junipers growing on your land that are in the wind direction of the fruit trees, that's the intermediate carrier of this disease.

Redhawk
 
pollinator
Posts: 1345
Location: Virginia USDA 7a/b
357
4
hugelkultur forest garden hunting chicken food preservation bee
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
J,

Rust is awful. I have not even bothered to plant non-resistant varieties. We have all the rusts here, but the Junipers are the common denominator, so I am removing them.

Living Energy Farms has a great publication on resistant apples, pears, etc. I have found it invaluable. Depending on your location Honeycrisp may be a total loss. They are grown here with heavy chemical application.
 
J Sullivan
Posts: 12
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Unfortunately I live in suburbia and my neighbor has a tree that is the culprit so I am legally bound to not chop his tree down
I would really like to avoid heavy chemical applications.   I will have to look into the tea to see what is the best components to help deal with rust.
 
We noticed he had no friends. So we gave him this tiny ad:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic