Home Fruit Spray Guide Jeffrey Hahn, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology Chad J. Behrendt, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology David Bedford, Research Scientist, Department of Horticultural Science

Copyright ©  2008  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

In order to successfully manage insect and disease problems, proper timing, thorough coverage, and the correct chemicals are essential. This simplified guide outlines a schedule that the average home gardener can maintain with minimum difficulty. Since not all pest problems present an equal threat at all locations each season, this guide offers gardeners a chance to determine a desirable level of control. If a gardener is willing to tolerate some cosmetic damage to the fruit, it is possible to reduce the number of sprays and still enjoy edible fruit. A thorough spray program is necessary for managing insect and disease problems. However, the number of sprays required for managing plant disease can be reduced by considering environmental conditions, such as rainfall and temperature. For example, protective fungicides need to be applied only when periods of wetting (rain) are forecast. Therefore, the number of sprays required may be lessened during dry weather. Always read pesticide labels carefully before buying and again before using the products. While pesticide recommendations in this guide are current at the time of publication, the availability and recommended use of specific pesticides may change. The label on the pesticide you are using is the final authority on how you may legally use it. The pesticides on the following pages are listed by the common names of their active ingredients. You will find these names on the label under the heading Active Ingredients . These names are often listed in fine print, so look carefully. Everyone has a different level of tolerance for fruit blemishes or crop losses. Use the following system to determine the relative importance of sprays to you: +++ Very important spray: may affect the edibility of the fruit. ++ Moderately important spray: may affect the appearance of the fruit but probably not the edibility in an 'average' year. + Secondarily important spray: may only be needed in some years or areas where the pest presents a special problem. All-purpose fruit sprays, sold under a number of trade names, contain a fungicide (usually captan) and insecticides (usually malathion and methoxyclor). Check the product label carefully for specific diseases and insects controlled and other important details. If you are managing only a single insect or plant disease problem, consider using a specific insecticide or fungicide instead of an all-purpose fruit spray to minimize unnecessary pesticides from being sprayed into the environment. Do not use captan and sulfur in combination or closely following each other as some fruit trees may be injured or defoliated. Representative trade names may be included along with generic names. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Spray Guide for Apples Sanitation is very important. Remove all leaf litter in fall and dead branches before budbreak in spring. Proper pruning and training is critical over the life of the tree. Use disease-resistant varieties if they are available for your area. Observe limitations on use of chemicals--read labels carefully. If using an all-purpose fruit spray provides unsatisfactory disease management, replace it with individual fungicides and insecticides. Remove all fallen fruit as they occur. Time to Spray Material to Use Problem Importance of Spray Green tip (when buds first show green but before leaves are 1/2 inch in length) petroleum oil Mites, scale, aphids + 1/2 inch green tip captan OR all-purpose fruit spray OR thiophanate-methyl Apple scab +++ Pink stage (when flower buds show pink tips, before they bloom) captan OR all-purpose fruit spray OR thiophanate-methyl Apple scab +++ all-purpose fruit spray or thiophanate- methyl (remove all orange gelatinous or woody brown galls from nearby junipers in spring) Cedar apple rust ++ Petal fall (after 3/4 of the flower petals have fallen) Same as pink stage Apple scab, Cedar apple rust +++ ++ diazinon OR methoxychor OR methoxychlor + malathion OR all-purpose fruit spray Plum curculio Codling moth ++ First summer spray (7-10 days after petal fall spray) Same as pink stage Apple scab Cedar apple rust +++ + Same as petal fall stage Plum curculio, codling moth & green fruitworm +++ Second summer spray (7-14 days after 1st summer spray) Same as pink stage Apple scab Cedar apple rust +++ + Third summer spray (7-14 days after 2nd summer spray) Same as pink stage Apple scab ++ First apple maggot* spray: July 1 (or monitor and begin spraying when apple maggot flies are present) Most effective: carbaryl OR phosmet OR diazinon. Less effective: methoxychlor OR all-purpose fruit spray Apple maggot +++ Second apple maggot spray: 7-10 days after 1st apple maggot spray Same as 1st apple maggot spray Apple maggot +++ Third apple maggot spray: 7-10 days after 2nd apple maggot spray Same as 1st apple maggot spray Apple maggot +++ Three sprays for apple maggot will give a basic level of management in most years. For maximum management, sprays may be continued at 7-10 day intervals through mid-September. Be sure to discontinue sprays soon enough before harvest to conform with label recommendations for the chemical you are using (i.e., diazinon should not be applied within 14 days of harvest). * Apple maggot is the most serious insect pest of apples in Minnesota. In July, apple maggot flies lay their eggs under the skin of the fruit. The larvae hatch from the eggs and tunnel throughout the apple leaving small brownish trails. Severe infestations render the fruit inedible. The flies must be killed before their eggs are laid. A thorough spray program is the most effective management. Using traps is an option for managing apple maggot that may eliminate the need to spray. Place sticky red spheres in trees in early July. Flies are attracted to them, then caught on the sticky surface. Approximately 5 spheres are needed per standard-sized tree (about 1 sphere per 100 apples). Spheres can be made more attractive by adding an apple volatile lure. Spheres and volatile lure designed for this purpose are available from garden centers and mail-order sources. The use of spheres may not be as effective as insecticides. Spray Guide for Pears NOTE: Pears in Minnesota are generally free of pests and do not require regular sprays. Refer to this spray guide if specific problems arise. Sanitation is very important. Remove all leaf litter in fall; remove dead branches before budbreak in spring. Proper pruning and training is critical over the life of the tree. Observe limitations on use of chemicals-read labels carefully. If using an all-purpose fruit spray provides unsatisfactory disease control, replace it with individual fungicides and insecticides. Remove all fallen fruit as they occur. Time to Spray Material to Use Problem Importance of Spray Pre-bloom: leaves 1/4 inch long until flowers start to open All-purpose fruit spray OR thiophanate-methyl Pear scab + phosmet OR malathion OR methoxychlor OR all-purpose fruit spray Codling moth Plum curculio + Full bloom* thiophanate-methyl Pear scab + Petal fall: after 3/4 of petals have fallen Same as pre-bloom Pear scab Coddling moth Plum curculio + First cover: 7-10 days after petal fall Same as pre-bloom Pear scab** oddling moth Plum curculio + * Do NOT use insecticides during bloom. ** Additional sprays may be applied if necessary. Spray Guide for Stone Fruits-Apricots, Cherries, Plums Sanitation is very important. Remove all leaf litter and fruits (under and still in the tree) in fall; remove dead branches before budbreak in spring. Proper pruning and training is critical over the life of the tree. Use disease-resistant varieties if they are available for your area. Observe limitations on use of chemicals-read labels carefully. If using an all-purpose fruit spray provides unsatisfactory disease control, replace it with individual fungicides and insecticides. Remove all fallen fruit as they occur. Time to Spray Material to Use Problem Importance of Spray Dormant: when buds begin to swell in spring lime sulfur Black knot* Plum pockets + Early bloom: when first color shows chlorothalonil OR all-purpose fruit spray OR captan Brown rot** Cherry leaf spot + Full bloom*** captan OR chlorothalonil Brown rot Cherry leaf spot + Petal fall: when 3/4 of petals have fallen Same as early bloom Brown rot Cherry leaf spot + phosmet OR diazinon OR methoxychlor OR malathion + methoxyclor OR all-purpose fruit spray Plum curculio +++ Husk fall: 10-14 days after petal fall captan OR all-purpose fruit spray Brown rot Cherry leaf spot + Same as petal fall Plum curculio +++ First cover: 10-14 days after husk fall Same as husk fall Brown rot + Mature fruit: when fruit begins to color or approximately 3 weeks before harvest. Observe pre-harvest limitations Same as husk fall Brown rot + * Cut out and destroy all black knot galls in the dormant season. Make pruning cuts 6-8 inches below visible swellings. ** Brown rot infections can be reduced for the following year by removing and destroying infected fruit at the end of each season. *** Do NOT use insecticides during bloom. Spray Guide for Strawberries Sanitation is very important. Remove all leaf litter in spring. Maintain and rejuvenate strawberry beds properly. Use disease-resistant varieties if they are available for your area. Observe limitations on use of chemicals-read labels carefully. If disease control using an all-purpose fruit spray is unsatisfactory, replace the all-purpose fruit spray with individual fungicides and insecticides. NOTE: Sap beetles (picnic beetles) are attracted to overripe fruit. Do not allow overripe fruit to accumulate. Time to Spray Material to Use Problem Importance of Spray New growth starts, but before fruit forms captan OR all-purpose fruit spray Botrytis rot (gray mold)** ++ Just prior to bloom (or up to 10% bloom) malathion OR all-purpose fruit spray Tarnished plant bug ++ carbaryl OR methoxyclor OR all-purpose fruit spray Strawberry bud weevil + After petal fall malathion OR all-purpose fruit spray Tarnished plant bug ++ ** Gray mold is usually only a serious problem in wet years. If wet weather continues, fungicide sprays may be applied at 7-14 day intervals up to harvest. Observe pre-harvest limitations. Proper mulching, sanitation and spacing are very important in disease prevention. Spray Guide for Raspberries Sanitation is very important. Remove all leaf litter in fall; remove bearing canes after harvest. Manage patch properly to prevent overcrowding. Use disease-resistant varieties if they are available for your area. To grow raspberries entirely without pesticides, choose a fall-bearing cultivar, then remove all canes to the ground in early spring before growth begins. Observe limitations on use of chemicals-read labels carefully. NOTE: For cane borers, remove and destroy infested canes. NOTE: Sap beetles (picnic beetles) are attracted to overripe fruit. Do not allow overripe fruit to accumulate. Time to Spray Material to Use Problem Importance of Spray Delayed dormant: late fall and/or as buds begin to swell (one or two applications) lime sulfur Spur blight Anthracnose Leaf spot Cane blight ++ New growth (when shoots are 6 inches long but before blossoms open) sulfur Powdery mildew* + * Repeat at 10 day intervals as needed up to harvest. Observe pre-harvest limitations

Related Extension Publications:

Growing Apples and Pears in Minnesota   FO-0432

Apple Maggot Management in Home Gardens  FS-1007

Raspberries for Home Gardens  FS-1108

Raspberry Diseases   FS-1152

Strawberries for the Home Garden  FO-5625

Strawberry Diseases  FS-1148

Growing Stone Fruits in Minnesota Home Gardens  FO-1125

Blueberries for Home Landscapes   FS-3463

Growing Grapes for Home Use   FO-1103

Currants and Gooseberries in the Home Garden   FS-1122

Tree Fruits: Insect and Disease Management for Backyard Fruit Growers in the Midwest   BU-7091

Small Fruits: Insect and Disease Management for Backyard Fruit Growers in the Midwest   BU-7090

Common Fruit Insects   MI-0574

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