Trouble in the Nursery

[greyphase]

After much success with my grafting this spring, my nursery has taken a turn for the worst. I've had a lot of wet weather so far this year and am hoping that is the problem. No sign of aphids and the potted trees and ground planted trees are both looking like this.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what is causing this.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I would guess some kind of insect. Any chance of herbicide drift from some crop field?

 

[greyphase]

I would guess some kind of insect. Any chance of herbicide drift from some crop field?

No herbicide anywhere close. I've given them a dusting of sevin to see if that helps.

 

[Turkey Creek]

If it is a insect issue I am not sure the dust will get the job done. The insects that cause that kind of damage usually reside inside the curl of the leaf not on the outside.

 

[TreeDaddy]

I have a similar curl on my persimmon seedling with a moist white crystal on inside

Overwatering?

bill

 

[yoderjac]

I have a similar curl on my persimmon seedling with a moist white crystal on inside

Overwatering?

bill

Do you have ants on those persimmon seedlings? I'd look for persimmon psylla. They want to attach new leaves on young trees. For the existing leaves, if curl is real bad, remove them. If it is just starting, spray the underside with Permethrin. Sevin will work but I like Permethrin better. As soon as new leave appear on the persimmons spray them.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Appleman]

I believe based on the photo it is powdery mildew. Leaf curling and stems with a powder white surface are two of the symptoms.

 

[Apple Junkie]

Ouch... looks nasty. Following Appleman's lead, sure looks like he is right. This might help... http://extension.psu.edu/plants/tree-fruit/diseases/apple-diseases/powdery-mildew.

The good news is, this does not appear to be fatal. I hope they all recover as the summer dries out a bit.

 

[yoderjac]

Yep, I think Bill has a different issue with the persimmons than he has with those apples. I had a little powdery-mildew during a wet cold snap this spring but it cleared up over time. It wasn't as bad as the pics above.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[mikmaze]

if it is powdery mildew, remember that nasty stuff overwinters on the ground on the leaves of the plant, to rise up and re infect the plant next year. rake and remove all that you can, or relocate plants in the case where they are mobile.

 

[yoderjac]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[greyphase]

I believe based on the photo it is powdery mildew. Leaf curling and stems with a powder white surface are two of the symptoms.

Thanks Appleman, I'll read up on it.

 

[chickenlittle]

I think I see a number of trees with this in my nursery. I guess I'll add some spray for them. Would be nice to keep things growing without anything slowing them up.

 

[Neahawg]

Greyphase I can't tell from the picture is it all the leaves or just the ones on new growth?

 

[greyphase]

Greyphase I can't tell from the picture is it all the leaves or just the ones on new growth?

It's mostly on the new growth.

 

[Neahawg]

Had they been without water for more than a day or two?

 

[greyphase]

Had they been without water for more than a day or two?

Actually it has been pretty wet here, but it has been dry all week. If they were all in pots I might believe that they were too wet, but the grafts planted in the ground are looking the same. I posted over on the NAFEX facebook page and other's are having the same problem. Some say they will grow out of it. Time will tell. Might hit them with some Neem oil.

 

[Neahawg]

I had one tree do that this year and it did grow out of it. It seems like it was only on new growth right as things warmed up. I changed to watering every day and no troubles since.

I have all mine in pots.

 

[chickenlittle]

The more I read up about Powdery Mildew and look at my nursery, I realize it has been a big problem this year. Many trees showing signs of it on the newest growth. Growth has been lackluster this year. I've lost a few young grafts that looked healthy for a while but I'm not sure that has anything to do with the mildew. The Captan fungicide I have is not supposed to be effective against PM so I bought some sulfur fungicide concentrate at Agway today and got my trees sprayed tonight. I'll keep using that and watch for improvement.

 

[Neahawg]

I've read where others have used neem oil with success. If it isn't powdery mildew it should take care of small insects as well.