Managing Peach Scab and Plum Curculio on Home Peach Trees

Why Peach Trees Are Easy to Grow but Hard to Harvest

Black splotches on ripening peaches are typically peach scab, a fungal disease. The "wormy" fruit indicates plum curculio, a weevil whose larvae feed inside the fruit. In many Southern regions, growing a healthy peach tree is straightforward, but consistently harvesting clean fruit requires diligent pest and disease management.

Recommended Control Strategy

There is no simple organic solution that provides complete control. The most reliable approach for homeowners is to follow a structured spray schedule. The Georgia Extension Homeowner Fruit Spray Guide outlines the timing and products for managing the major peach pests and diseases throughout the season.

Key practices include:

• Applying fungicides (like captan or chlorothalonil) for scab control.
• Using insecticides targeting plum curculio at petal fall and subsequent intervals.
• Thinning fruit to improve air circulation and spray coverage.
• Sanitation: remove and destroy fallen fruit, leaves, and twigs each winter.

Consistent adherence to a spray program is the best way to enjoy a blemish-free peach harvest.