View Single Post
Old 10-01-2012, 03:09 AM   #10 (permalink)
planetrj
Planetrj Hawaii Z11b
 
planetrj's Avatar
 
Location: Hilo area, Hawaii
Zone: 11b
Name: Kaleo
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 354
BananaBucks : 30,799
Feedback: 1 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 135 Times
Was Thanked 198 Times in 109 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times
Default Re: Someting wrong with my fruit tree

Over the last few decades there has been great research on citrus at UC Riverside, and in the last couple years I'd been able to piggy back on some of the student's research findings. There are many acres of trees which cannot be used for anything other than research (no eating fruit). Yes, it's that extensive. It has been found that although leaf miners leave a pretty unsightly patch of foliage (especially new foliage), the typical amount of foliage damage they do on a fruit bearing size tree is insignificantly affecting fruit production, and any use of pesticides should be considered for aesthetic use only. Not in prevention of fruit loss since they do not bore into pedicels, peduncles, or calyxes. Where it can be helpful is when a very young plant gets severely affected, which likely is not high in fruit production yet.

Overall, at least for borer issues on mature trees, I would suggest to leave them without treatment since it seems to show that there are more chances of fruit containing toxin byproducts from these pesticides no matter which you chose, since they all catalyze into other chemical compounds once absorbed into the xylem.

One effective treatment which is natural and more of a preventative (early season) is Neem Oil sprayed on the circumference (top and bottom of foliage). This is a very effective deterrent for the moth to lay eggs on the underside of the leaf at the side of the spine. The moths tend to lay eggs from June through Oct-Nov (depending on area). So knowing this, early June through Sept-Oct would likely be the best time for application. It is difficult to see the moths since they are very tiny and only active from dusk to dawn.

I hope this helps on the answer of the leafminers.
__________________
you will never have enough bananas ^_^

Last edited by planetrj : 10-01-2012 at 12:07 PM.
planetrj is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To planetrj
Said thanks: