Is all lost if I see Oriental Fruit moth damage on my peaches?

[Paddy]

I'm guilty of not spraying my peach trees yet, between raining and travel, I missed it. Now I see oozing peaches all over. I'd say most of them.

The trees were planted last spring and this year the trees were covered with blooms and soon after the peaches.

What should I do? Pick off all the infected fruit? If I leave them will they grow OK but will need to have the "bad spots" cut out?

 

[3Lfarms]

It is recommended to strip all fruit off the tree for the first two years after planting to let the tree build itself. Strip the fruits as soon as they set (you can actually see the small fruit).
The branches aren’t strong enough yet to support the weight.

 

[Paddy]

3Lfarms, yes that is how I have "consoled" myself. I let 2 peaches grow the first year of planting. I was hoping for a few this year. I had thinned many off before the darn OFM hit.

Do you know if an infected peach will make it to the ripening stage?

 

[3Lfarms]

I don’t know, but infections don’t usually heal themselves. I would strip the fruit and work on getting the tree healthy.

 

[oosik]

When I had soft fruit - peaches & apricots - my problem was wasps and yellow jackets. Pick early in the AM before they are in the trees and simply cut out the area they have chewed. I don't think you want to mess with moth damaged fruit. What I saw on my internet look-up was not appetizing.

3Lfarms has the answer for this years fruit. Be prepared to spray next year.

Actually - I guess you could cut open the fruit and check. Its not going to be as nice as the worm at the bottom of the bottle of tequila. That's for sure.

 

[Paddy]

I did cut a few open, definitely OFM. As each day goes on, more fruit is dropping. I left a message with our local Extension agency, hope to get an answer today.

Researching, first spraying is the critical one. This greatly reduces overall population. I'll be all over it next year!

Thanks for all your advice guys.

 

[MacLawn]

At least it wasn't those dagnabbed asian ambrosia beetles. It's too wet to plow once them rascals hit.

 

[Paddy]

I did hear back from the extension agency. She said the fruit will develope. She admitted her and her husband missed spraying once and he insisted they leave the peaches on. They got fruit but she thought it was a lot of work to salvage a few bowls of peach slices.