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#1
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Any Fruit Experts?
Hi all
I have had a problem with a blackcurrant bush and wanted to check it out with you. The bush in question grew 3 or 4 stems which all went up vertically (rather than spreading to a bush form). Leaves formed, but all the stems and leaves kind of clumped together. Then the leaves kind of screwed themselves up. To avoid transfer of disease, I cut this bush down to ground level to see if it would return. I have 2 other blackcurrant bushes and 3 redcurrants. The 2 blackcurrant bushes have had some leaves turn yellow and drop. Some of the younger leaf tips are showing signs of screwing up. The redcurrant bushes appear unaffected. Questions: What has caused the demise of the first tree? Should I be removing all bushes to eliminate disease, or is there a spray to resolve this? I have first-season apple and plumb trees in touching distance of the blackcurrant bushes - can these be affected? Thanks in anticipation Phil |
#3
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Any Fruit Experts?
"Charlie Pridham" wrote snip................ Questions: What has caused the demise of the first tree? Should I be removing all bushes to eliminate disease, or is there a spray to resolve this? I have first-season apple and plumb trees in touching distance of the blackcurrant bushes - can these be affected? Thanks in anticipation Phil I think if you look inside the clumped together bit you will find either caterpillars or aphids either are easy enough to treat but chose an insecticide for edible plants -- Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall Thanks Charlie Does the presence of caterpillars/aphids account for yellowing and dropping leaves? Phil |
#4
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Any Fruit Experts?
TheScullster wrote:
Does the presence of caterpillars/aphids account for yellowing and dropping leaves? Having spent over two hours picking diseased leaves off my blackcurrant bushes (I have a few), this interests me. I believe they are two unrelated issues. I have an ongoing situation with the premature yellowing and dropping of leaves. It began with hazel bushes a couple of years ago but seems now to have spread somewhat promiscuously to a range of woody plants. I'm seeing it this year on elder, blackcurrant, briar rose, silver birch, an ornamental cherry plus the original hazels. So the first thing I'd say is to look around your neighbourhood to see if you can see it anywhere else. If it's the same thing I've got it's quite noticeable as the yellowing leaves also go brown and dessicated at the edges. In the case of the hazels and the silver birches, whatever it is eventually kills the plant over two or three years. There is die-back along the twigs, progressively fewer leaves, and those which do come out hang rather listlessly. I don't yet know if other species are as susceptible. Because of the very humid conditions last summer, and because whatever it is on the hazels spread to adjacent shrubs such as hawthorne and field maple, I thought it was some kind of fungal disease. Now I'm not so sure and think it might be bacterial/viral. This matters because there are preventative treatments available for fungal problems, such as Dithane, but not for the others. What I've also noticed about this is that the first growth of leaves, those that break out of the winter buds, are mostly unaffected but new leaves following are nearly all affected, so most of the yellowing and dropping leaves are small, not fully formed. Is this what you're seeing on your plants? As to surrounding trees or shrubs becoming affected, it seems to depend on the species. I have apples and plums and it hasn't so far migrated to them, but watch this space. I'm about to send some leaf samples to a lab for a report and if you think what I'm describing fits what you're seeing I'll post the results here. Whether they'll be useful is another matter. By the way, I wonder where in the country you are? I'm in S W Wales. I have seen the same symptoms in hazels in the surrounding hedgerows, so it not just me --unless I was the source of the outbreak! brian mitchell |
#5
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Any Fruit Experts?
"brian mitchell" wrote Having spent over two hours picking diseased leaves off my blackcurrant bushes (I have a few), this interests me. I believe they are two unrelated issues. I have an ongoing situation with the premature yellowing and dropping of leaves. It began with hazel bushes a couple of years ago but seems now to have spread somewhat promiscuously to a range of woody plants. I'm seeing it this year on elder, blackcurrant, briar rose, silver birch, an ornamental cherry plus the original hazels. So the first thing I'd say is to look around your neighbourhood to see if you can see it anywhere else. If it's the same thing I've got it's quite noticeable as the yellowing leaves also go brown and dessicated at the edges. In the case of the hazels and the silver birches, whatever it is eventually kills the plant over two or three years. There is die-back along the twigs, progressively fewer leaves, and those which do come out hang rather listlessly. I don't yet know if other species are as susceptible. Because of the very humid conditions last summer, and because whatever it is on the hazels spread to adjacent shrubs such as hawthorne and field maple, I thought it was some kind of fungal disease. Now I'm not so sure and think it might be bacterial/viral. This matters because there are preventative treatments available for fungal problems, such as Dithane, but not for the others. What I've also noticed about this is that the first growth of leaves, those that break out of the winter buds, are mostly unaffected but new leaves following are nearly all affected, so most of the yellowing and dropping leaves are small, not fully formed. Is this what you're seeing on your plants? As to surrounding trees or shrubs becoming affected, it seems to depend on the species. I have apples and plums and it hasn't so far migrated to them, but watch this space. I'm about to send some leaf samples to a lab for a report and if you think what I'm describing fits what you're seeing I'll post the results here. Whether they'll be useful is another matter. By the way, I wonder where in the country you are? I'm in S W Wales. I have seen the same symptoms in hazels in the surrounding hedgerows, so it not just me --unless I was the source of the outbreak! brian mitchell Hi Brian Thanks for the comprehensive response. The yellowing leaves I am seeing are more mature and formed leaves, but they are also developing a brown fringe before dropping. I can't help thinking that the fruit size and yield are down. But I discovered that the majority of new shoots and leaf clusters are being attacked by aphids - will this cause the yellowing leaves? Went round last night with the fairy liquid spray and doused them all thoroughly. I only have 3 blackcurrant bushes, but a couple of redcurrants also seem to be affected (more by the shrivelled leaves due to aphids than the yellowing leaves). http://www.eewinerycoop.com/docs/blackcurrants.pdf gives details of pests and symptoms, though I expect you've done the google bit to death already. I am just hoping that the cause isn't reversion, as this means discarding bushes and starting again. As the blackcurrant bushes are almost touching apple and plum trees (small garden - needs must) it will be bad news if the problem does spread. I am in east yorkshire (3 miles from the Humber Bridge) - elevated location, clay soil with some chalk. If you could email me next time you post any further info from your tests it would be appreciated (pscull at europacrown dottcomm) - I am an occasional URGLER only. Phil |
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