Q. I’m curious if there is
any other reason other than drought or overwatering that would cause my donut
peach growing in a container to wilt within 24 hours? I pruned the dead
branches off and touched very little of the live wood.
any other reason other than drought or overwatering that would cause my donut
peach growing in a container to wilt within 24 hours? I pruned the dead
branches off and touched very little of the live wood.
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| Donut peach wilting |
A. Donut peach, sometimes
called bagel peach, Saturn peach, pan tao
peach, and a bunch of other names, are a good choice for our climate and soils.
They are a novelty but deliver very sweet fruit great for eating fresh and
birds love too! A problem that I have mentioned in the past as well as how to
avoid it.
called bagel peach, Saturn peach, pan tao
peach, and a bunch of other names, are a good choice for our climate and soils.
They are a novelty but deliver very sweet fruit great for eating fresh and
birds love too! A problem that I have mentioned in the past as well as how to
avoid it.
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| Stark Saturn Donut peach |
Thanks for the pictures and I will post them here and on
my blog. I understand it is still in the container and you will plant it soon.
my blog. I understand it is still in the container and you will plant it soon.
For leaf wilting to occur, something is stopping the
water from reaching the leaves. This could be a soil problem, root damage, stem
damage or direct damage to the leaves. Obviously, a lack of water or watering
too often so the roots suffocate can cause wilting.
water from reaching the leaves. This could be a soil problem, root damage, stem
damage or direct damage to the leaves. Obviously, a lack of water or watering
too often so the roots suffocate can cause wilting.
A common problem this time of years is applying fertilizer
or strong compost too close to the trunk. This can cause the leaves to wilt
because of the high nutrient content (salts) in fertilizers and many rich
composts. If applied next to the trunk or against it, it can cause plant wilting
followed by death.
or strong compost too close to the trunk. This can cause the leaves to wilt
because of the high nutrient content (salts) in fertilizers and many rich
composts. If applied next to the trunk or against it, it can cause plant wilting
followed by death.
Apply fertilizers and compost no closer than 12 inches
from the trunk. If the container is smaller than this, then use a very small
amount and apply it more often.
from the trunk. If the container is smaller than this, then use a very small
amount and apply it more often.
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| Stark Saturn Donut peach with bird damage |
Check for borer damage on the trunk. I had trees coming
from the nursery, both container and bare root, with borers already in the
trunk. If your tree had borers in it the same season you bought it, the borer came
with the tree when it was bought. No extra charge!
from the nursery, both container and bare root, with borers already in the
trunk. If your tree had borers in it the same season you bought it, the borer came
with the tree when it was bought. No extra charge!
Spray the trunk with water from a spray bottle several
times until the stem is soaked. If the borer is active, you will see globs of brown
or dark red sap coming from the stem. Sometimes I can squeeze the stem with my
first two fingers and I can feel “sponginess” where the borer is feeding just
under the bark. Dig it out with a sanitized, sharp knife and let it heal.
times until the stem is soaked. If the borer is active, you will see globs of brown
or dark red sap coming from the stem. Sometimes I can squeeze the stem with my
first two fingers and I can feel “sponginess” where the borer is feeding just
under the bark. Dig it out with a sanitized, sharp knife and let it heal.
It is possible that spray drift from weed killers could
do it but I may be grasping for straws with that one.
do it but I may be grasping for straws with that one.
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| When using compost as a fertilizer for fruit trees keep the compost away from the tree trunk. |