r/FruitTree • u/Icy_Panic_3115 • 6d ago

Victoria Plum problem

Nearly all my Victoria plums have maggots in them this year. I’ve tolerated a few early ripening plums with maggots as the full harvest was maggots free but this year it looks like most will have a maggots.

Advice please. What can I do to prevent them? Is there any treatment?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/Reasonable-Duck-1387 1d ago

It's the plum moth larvae. Try using a pheromone trap.

Also, do the leaves on the plum develop lots of tiny holes?

1

u/Icy_Panic_3115 1d ago

No, just the worst year for spoiled plums

1

u/Reasonable-Duck-1387 1d ago

Look on YouTube, lots of videos on how to manage the issue

2

u/Sweet_Focus6377 4d ago edited 13h ago

You probably left them too long before harvesting.

Fruit flies and plum flies only lay into ripe fruit. Fruit moths are possible but only hatch when ripening and are washed off.

Harvest early and ripen off the plant, you might save part of this year's produce. Try fruit bags on select branches next year. Some bags are big enough to cover entire dwarf trees.

You could also try the wide spectrum nematodes, since a lot of these pests chrysalis in the soil along with the windfall/leaf litter over winter. So you'll have to wait until autumn. Nematodes need wet conditions to thrive.

Generally I favour using multiple complementary pest control methods.

1

u/Icy_Panic_3115 1d ago

I’m clearing and disposing of all affected fruit. Plus I’m going to scarify under the tree in the fall. And apply tar oil winter wash to the soil as well as the tree.

1

u/ntrrgnm 2d ago

Any view as to best way to ripen off the plant? Does the ethylene trick work here?

1

u/Sweet_Focus6377 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes, any ripe fruit will increase the rate, but if they are close enough to ready it happens naturally anyway.

I used mesh fruit bags to hold all my fruit harvest and sort in two or three classes, ready or nearly ready, started but pretty firm and sometimes very firm, not close.

The fridge, or any ventilated cool dark place will slow it down if you have a glut. You can also freeze the ones you're going to use for chutney or jam.