I was determined to treat my peach tree this year - even if it was to satisfy my curiosity and establish whether the tree, which my daughter had grown from a peach stone, would even bear fruit.
The tree was only a foot tall or so when we packed it into the lorry before moving here to France and it had spent about a year growing in a container before it was relocated to its permanent position at the top of the vegetable patch.
Every year since, Peach Leaf Curl has destroyed any chance of fruit.
I missed the opportunity last year due to a mild winter and being busy trying to move us all into the kitchen extension, I was determined to get a winter wash of Copper on.
The intention was to use a Copper Sulphate called Bordeaux mix - Ironically, Bordeaux Mix is a fungicide and was discovered by accident after grape vines growing along the sides of roads in the Bordeaux region of France had escaped relatively unscathed from what was a fairly widespread Downy Mildew devastation.
The vines had been sprayed with a copper sulphate and lime mixture, intended to make the grapes which grew alongside the roads, unpalatable to humans. Farmers had lost a great deal of grape vines to Downy Mildew after vines from North America, which were contaminated with Downy Mildew, were introduced into trials in the Bordeaux region.
However, it was noticed that the vines that has been sprayed with the copper sulphate and lime to discourage the 'scrumpers' had not been affected. Bordeaux Mix is now used extensively as a fungicidal spray across the world.
I digress a little but I thought you might be as interested as I was in the history of fruit development.
I didn't however buy Bordeaux Mix in the end. Whilst in Gamm Vert, I noticed another package next alongside the Bordeaux Mix specifically for fruit.
The product was still Copper based but as an Oxide instead as a sulphate and considering I was in the famous Prune (plumb) region of the Lot et Garonne, France, I thought that they might know what they were talking about and bought the Copper Oxide product instead.
If in doubt, Copper Oxide is a deep orange red powder and Copper Sulphate is blue to green.
Before applying the fungicide, I first had to tidy up the tree, having done no maintenance to the area since last autumn and I had definitely never pruned the Peach tree before.
I cleared away the long grass from the base of the trunk and pulled the long strands of grass from the crown.
I then used my secateurs to remove all the dead wood - die-back, even from last years growth was substantial. I attributed this to the deep cold snap.
I also identified any crossing branches or branches that were turning back towards the centre of the tree. This will increase air circulation; a must for fruit trees if fungal disease is to be avoided or discouraged.
I had by this time removed a fair bit of wood but I was happy with the shape and the condition. I made sure that the cuts were sharp and close to their intended joint so that disease cannot harbour in any stumpy ends which might lead to further infection and die-back.
I then mixed up the Copper solution and gave the whole tree a good wash making sure that I had drenched every visible and conceivable nook and cranny.
The copper does not have a systemic effect but it will attack any pathogens and nullify their ability to attach the tree.
I am hoping that this wash, timed in advance of the buds opening, will destroy the disease and give the tree a fighting chance this year.
You might be interested in - Treating Peach Leaf Curl - Taphrina deformans
Click each photo to enlarge.
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