How do I know if my pear tree has fire blight?
The first sign of fire blight is a light tan to reddish, watery ooze coming from the infected branch, twig, or trunk cankers. This ooze begins to turn darker after exposure to air, leaving dark streaks on the branches or trunks. Fire blight infections often move into twigs and branches from infected blossoms.
What does pear blight look like?
Leaves and infected shoots turn brown or black. Trees with multiple, infected shoots may appear scorched by fire. Brown leaves hang downward. Often, they cling to the blighted twig through the growing season and remain attached to the tree into winter.
Why does my pear tree look burnt?
Fire blight, cause by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is the most devastating disease of pear. The bacteria are also carried by wind and rain to open pear blossoms. Infected tissues are characterized by their blackened, “burned” appearance, hence the name “fire blight.”
How do I get rid of fire blight on my pear tree?
Reduce new infections by spraying an antibiotic such as streptomycin sulfate (Ferti-lome® Fire Blight Spray) on flowers or shoots before the bacteria infect them. A copper sulfate fungicide (Bonide® Copper Fungicide) is also an option when applied several times while the blossoms are open.
When do you spray fruit trees for fire blight?
Watch for and protect secondary blossoms during the three weeks after petal fall, which is the most common time of fire blight infection. Most sprays only protect the blooms that are open. Protect new blooms as they open. In warm weather, follow-up sprays are needed every few days.
When do you spray pear trees for fire blight?
Pears: Pear trees are also treated with a pre-bloom, copper fungicide spray, and then sprays of streptomycin during bloom. Apply the first spray with streptomycin as soon as the flowers open. Repeat at 3 to 4 day intervals as long as blossoms are present.
Which pear trees are fire blight resistant?
Resistant Varieties European pears that show some degree of resistance include: Harrow Crisp, Harrow Gold, Harrow Delight, Harrow Sweet, Harvest Queen, Kieffer, Magness, Maxine, Moonglow, Old Home, Orient, Seckel, Starking Delicious, and Warren.
How do you treat fire blight on pear trees?
How do you treat pear leaf blight?
Treating pear fruit spot requires a combination of chemical and cultural practices. Apply fungicides as soon as leaves are fully developed, then repeat three more times at two-week intervals. Spray the tree thoroughly until the fungicide drips from the leaves.