Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
al, you should wait at least 2, and preferably 4, weeks after applying a sulfur-
containing material before applying horticultural oils.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is derived from pressing the fruits and seeds of the neem tree (
Az-
adirachta indica
), which is native to India and is cultivated widely in trop-
ical regions. While neem products are best known to organic farmers as in-
secticides, they also have some effectiveness against powdery mildew, an-
thracnose, rusts, and some bacterial spot diseases. Organic neem-based fun-
gicides are approved by OMRI.
DORMANT SEASON DISEASE AND PEST
CONTROL
A keystone of a successful orchard is an effective program of con-
trolling diseases and pests during the dormant season. This particular
program controls a wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases and is
valuable in managing mite, aphid, scale, and other insect pests. The ap-
proach involves making a total of three spray applications from late fall
through green tip.
Apply Bordeaux mix in late fall after the leaves have dropped. As we
Bordeaux sprays, the first immediately after harvest but before the
leavesdrop.Fortheprogramweareconsideringhere,wearereferring
to a single Bordeaux mix application in late fall. Apply sufficient spray
to cover the trunks, branches, and canes, but not to the point that the
spray drips off. You want to minimize the amount of copper getting into
the soil. The sulfur and copper act as fungicides and bactericides.
