Apple scab- a common disease of apples and pears

[fantabulousK]

Is it okay to eat an apple when it HAS "apple scab"? Or will you get sick in some way like when you eat a fruit with rot?

[cottoncandypoms]

Please look into colloidal silver for killing this fungus. It is natural and kills all fungus. Also great natural aid for our personal health. Thank you for your video's , learning much and enjoying your teaching.

[79Testo]

Wettable Sulphur sprays or Copper to deal with this, what do you think?

[BritLadyatHome]

I have 3 applers - one average & 2 infants - 1 cooker, 1 eating, I dont know the varieties. Ive lived here for 3 yrs, the last 2 the larger tree has been scab infested with a couple of signs the 1st year. Ive chopped everything back I can think of but with no success. The smaller eater had scab this year too. :( Are some trees just sick? Suffer and never quite recover? Im about to I take a saw to it! Its not the best taster but Im still deciding what the best thing to do is. Any advice? xx

[stephenhayesuk]

@BritLadyatHome Some varieties are much more scab prone than others, microclimate also has a role to play-the wetter, the worse. However, it is always possible to control scab with fungicide. As long as you follow the rules, this is safe. Don't axe your trees without at least trying fungcide, it is very likely they can recover. The most important sprays are in the early season.

[WavegirlThinks]

Thank you for mentioning that 'organic' farmers still use damaging pesticides.

Also, I am researching Venturia inaequalis (the fungus that causes apple scab) and I can assure you we are doing our best to breed the most durable resistant varieties. GM would really speed things up, but getting them through trials is too expensive (and we couldnt grow them here anyway).

Hell, we already have a GM red fleshed apple, but will have to spend 10yrs+ breeding it because of NZ laws.

[stephenhayesuk]

@WavegirlThinks Many thanks. I love NZ but I guess you are as overregulated and suffer from irrational and self seeking single issue pressure groups just as we do in UK.

The irony is that as our society boasts of being rational and rejecting superstition, we shriek 'no GM until proven 100.00% safe, and no proof as we'll sabotage the trials'. They also delude themselves that we can control pests and diseases by companion planting and homeopathy. Another triumph of reason by the Green movement

[stephenhayesuk]

try Irich Peach (I am going to post a video on this in a few days) a good early season apple from Ireland

I always advise against raigiin fruit trees from seed. It is a big gamble, and although all our varieties came that way originally, its a long chance. I thnk it is better not to try to raise new varieties, but make use of the many excellent varieties we already have, many of which are threatened with extinction. re-inventing the wheel, as it were. But if you want to try, graft to a dwarf.

[ballhitch2]

sorry another question. i've grown 12 little trees and 4 pear from seed. in feb i'm gonna take scion's from a friends aunts back yard to graft them over. these trees a massive(20ft at least) and in autum they're cover in good sized fruit although they're never pruned. had a look in orchard behind my local, apples are all dead but there are two pears. Q. how do identify varieties. you know any books.i'm in co. Down in ireland. hope to find old irish var.

i mean to give away. johny lives on

[ballhitch2]

you misunderstand i'm gonna use the root stock of the seedlings to grow the donor scion on to maturity.

[ballhitch2]

have braeburn and fiesta in garden. braeburn has what looks black spot. fruit is not affected but alot of leaves turning yellow. i've been removing the dead leaves and spraying with 'rose clear' from garden centre. is there anything else i can do. fiesta has a touch of it but seems ressistant. also they're in large pots(moved house) when is a good time to plant in ground.

thanks, your vids are an inspiration

[stephenhayesuk]

PLEASE NOTE all the apple growing advice on my Youtubes and web site is IN GOOD FAITH but I cannot accept responsibility for what friends round the world do with it.

I am a self taught amateur.

Please check as many sources as you can before going ahead with projects.

PS ballhitch, I discourage trying to raise your own new varieties of apple and pear from seed. The chances are strongly against you, and there are hundreds of proven good old varieties, best grow them instead.

[MAMEMAN1975]

Thanks for the info Stephen

[DamonBKnox]

Man Im sorry about that. Hopefully your orchard will not be hit too badly.

[bozzchem]

All of my apple trees are displaying signs of scab. Is it too late to treat them? If not, please provide the method for doing so. I live in the States so brands/items may be different than the UK.

[stephenhayesuk]

Hi. Its not too late to apply fungicide, you can't repair damage that has already occurred but can reduce further infection and allow new leaves to grow though clean, as well as reduce disease load for future years. I cannot/ will not advise on specific products as the area is a legal minefield and regulations change. Seek local advice and obey all relevant legislation, read the label, keep good records, do not exceeed reccomended strength or frequency of applications.

[MadBadVoodo]

Five Stars!!