Organic Gardening Info from Peaceful Valley

A PVFS Customer Question with Staff Response

Question:
How do you deal with peach leaf curl. I guess it’s a problem here. Some people use a copper spray. That’s not organic is it? What do I need to do to prevent this or to help the peach survive this. Thanks, Susan

Answer:
Most people use either a copper or sulfur spray during the dormant season. Ideally, you would spray three times while the leaves are off the tree, with the third spray being just as a little bud color is beginning to show. The sprays we sell are used by organic home-gardeners. If you have our 2010 Main catalog, the lavender section on page 130 explains the use of mineral fungicides quite well. If you are a certified organic grower, you must check with your certifying agency to see if the products are approved.

I have had some success at treating peach leaf curl with compost tea during the growing season. Some people pick all the infected leaves off and fertilize to help the tree make a new set of leaves, which are usually disease free. If you decide to replace the tree, Frost & Q-18 are two curl-resistant varieties.

Hope this helps,

A PVFS Customer Question with Staff Answer:

Question:

Hi,
I have two currently healthy volunteer pinion pine seedlings.  I would like to transplant them into safer locations. I’m not sure how to do this. One seedling is now 2 yrs old and about 3-4″ high, the other seedling is about 9 months old, 1- 1/2″ high and in a very precarious spot where it will be too dry and too cold to survive the winter.

I’d like to get these seedlings to shelter before the big storm hits us Dec 4th.  I live in Rio Rancho, NM, at about 5500′ with sometimes fierce winds.

Do you have any advice. I tried the county extension agent but he’s too busy with his T.V. show I guess.
Love your trees.

Answer:

Generally speaking, California Native plants do not transplant very well. The root system can be considerably larger than the top growth and most natives don’t like their roots disturbed. However, we do sell Pinyon Pine Bare Root, which seems like a contradiction. The conifer seedlings we bring in were probably grown in a softer soil and a controlled environment which is easier on the tree roots.

I would lean toward caution because I would hate for you to lose your trees. On the other hand, If they’re in a bad spot and will probably die anyway, it may be worth the risk.  I would have the new spots all prepared with any necessary amendments and soak the exposed roots in a diluted kelp solution for about 30 minutes before replanting.

Hope this helps,

Question:

Greetings and Such

We have a very old pie apple tree. It produces very well, but needs some care. Prunning for example; when should I prune and how much should I prune? When the leaves fall off should I spray, if so, what kind of spray do I need? We live in zone 5…. I think, northern Utah.

Answer:

Hi There Apple Pie Tree Owner
Sounds like you have a wonderful old tree that just needs a little loving care.   Now is a really good time to prune.  Take off any branches that shoot straight up-they are water shoots and don’t produce fruit.  Also thinning the interior is a good idea.  You can also summer prune to get a nice shape.  There is lots of information out there  on line, at your local library or your local farm advisor on fruit tree pruning for more  precise information.

This is a good time to begin your dormant spray regiment,  usually three times a season, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day.  Dormant spray help prevent such things as codling moth and other fungal problems.  You might want to look at

Organic JMS Sytlet Oil which one of our most popular organic dormant sprays.   To find out more about dormant sprays look at our website or in our catalogue.

Take a look at this article for more information on dormant sprays.

Take a Look at these videos about pruning fruit trees here.

Happy Holidays

A PVFS Customer Email – Staff answer.

Question:

I am very ineterested in buying a couple Persimmon – Fuyu-Jiro (Standard) trees and I have a few questions.  Do these type of trees need pollination? Can they grow well in Southern CA? We live in San Diego County, 2 miles away from the ocean. Also, I would like to learn about Kiwwi. the same questions. Thank you!

Answer:

The Fuyu-Jiro Persimmon does not need a pollinator.  They grow within USDA zones 7-9 as long as you get 200 hours of chill time for them, they should do fine.

Also, the Kiwi doesn’t need a pollinator, both male and female flowers are on the same vine.  I’ve attached your local Master Gardener’s Extension office, they may have better information particular to your area then I have available to me.

Take a Look at the Master Gardeners National Website here.

Hope this helps.

Testing found high levels of lead in me. Since I do not know the source, I am testing first our well water. If we have lead in our water, can we assume that it will also be in our soil? I often have worked without gloves. Also, what is a reliable way to test the soil in our garden and fields for lead? There is a inexpensive test kit that is sold in hardwares. What would we do to remediate if there is lead in our soil? Thanks, Mary

I read that almond hulls have a lot of calcium. If that is true, would they make good top dressing for a small vineyard on fairly heave soil?
Thank you,
Val