One question for everyone in the Midwest; how can you grow peaches in Missouri? Every dang creature with mouthparts eats peaches, from insects, to coons, possums, and deer have destroyed my crop year after year.
Speaking of peaches... I am in North Carolina. This is the first year that my (now 4 year old peach trees) have produced a bumper crop. I have many peaches that have worms that have pretty much destroyed the pit. The worms tend to be around the pit. I want to be on top of this next year, so that I can have some really nice peaches. The ones that I picked that were not wormy were really really good!
Brest method? Critter control
Seals will disseminate the fish
Racoon’s will disseminate the corn
It is very difficult to grow peaches in Missouri. When we first moved to this part of the state, we had a peach tree growing outside our trailer.
Most years, there were almost zero peaches due to spring frost. Once every 4 years there would be a crop. For some reason, nothing attacked the fruit, and I processed so many peaches, I never wanted to see another. LOL
Next to my daughter’s house is a peach tree growing in a subdivision that was formerly a cow pasture. My daughter wasn’t picking it because it had some insects/worms. So I picked a bucket full and took it with me on a vacation trip.
Simply cut off the bad parts, and ate some fresh -put the rest in a little lemon juice, and sugar water, and ate that later.
I’ve read that trees should be sprayed as a preventative measure in February for pests, and fungi. Since we are growing our own food to get away from pesticides, and other bacteria, this is not for us, but so far, our peach trees have produced nothing for critters to chew on.
Aside from birds, possums, coons, and a red fox, we don’t have critter issues. Our dog used to keep those at bay, if they came close to the house, and since the peach tree was right next to the dog/children play fenced area, I have never seen any issues in that respect.
Other places, we do have squirrels, and the afore mentioned critters that get plenty of berries etc. Last year, the corn was planted at the very back of the property, and our dog was missing, and a coon got all the corn.
I have used old pie pans, old computer disks, and the kid’s whirley gizmos that spin when the wind blows to help keep the birds and critters away from the stuff I plant.
Hubby used to live trap the squirrels, coons, and possums and haul them far far away. Now he uses them as practice for his air rifle.
If we ever get peaches, I am thinking that I may just make some sacks out of light weight insect row cover material and put it over the fruit as an experiment to see if that will work.
I’ve noticed since our dog died, that the squirrels are having a great time on the back patio, and I never used to see them there, so don’t underestimate man’s best friend.
I haven’t has much luck with our one tree bought from wallie world. Three years now. The first year, it was really too small for fruit so I pulled most of the buds off and left three. Those black beetles with greenish tint, that I can’t remember the name of, ate all the leaves and then got into the fruit. The last two years, the frost got the buds. This thing buds about the same time as the dogwoods and redbuds bloom which is too early in my opinion but I don’t think walmart cares if what they sell is correct for the zone they sell it in. I don’t even think it had a variety listed. Won’t be buying fruit trees from them again.
I’ll be going by this. Home Fruit Production: Peach and Nectarine Culture
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G6030
and this; Fruit Spray Schedules for the Homeowner
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G6010-7
From everything I’ve read, fruit trees just have to be sprayed, period.
Peaches in Misery are not easy. I get a crop maybe 1 out of 3 years, and they will almost all have a worm or bird pecker hole. I could spray em, but it’s not much trouble to eat around the bad spots.
The key to keeping the deer and other furry varmints out is to let the dogs sleep outside at night when there’s fruit on the trees.