Preventing Sap From Oozing from Peach and Nectarine Fruit
Question from Jeannette:Is there anything I can do next year to prevent sap on my fruit. The peaches are mottled, if that is a word that makes sense. I don’t know what the ripe fruit will be like but I think they will not be good. Thanks for your help Jeanntte Ps I live in Lake Elsinore Ca.
Answer from Pat:
Unfortunately peach trees are beset with many problems. When sap oozes from a peach fruit this is most likely caused by a bug, such as a stink bug, piercing the flesh of the peach. In some cases the fruit will shrivel and fall off the tree but sometimes it will remain, the fruit will mature and can be eaten but you will need to cut around the blemish. Winter hygiene, proper pruning with clean disinfected tools and dormant spray can help control pests and diseases on peaches. (See pages 59 and 62 of my book for more information on dormant spray and peach leaf curl.) Whereas some organic gardeners don’t use dormant spray others feel that with peaches one must use it due to the prevalence of peach leaf curl. Growing an organic garden with rich organic soil, earthworm castings on the ground, mulching with manure in late fall or spring, and the presence of birds and many beneficial insects all combine to help control pests.
However, there is also another factor that may be causing juice to ooze from fruit and this is sunburn. You live in Lake Elsinore where the sun is fierce. Deciduous fruit, such as apple, peach, apricot and nectarine, needs to be properly shaded by leaves so it is not sunburned. If one lives in a mild, warm-winter climate and has planted a variety that needs more winter chill than it is getting, then it is not adapted to one’s specific climate zone. Varieties that need many hours of winter chill cannot go into dormancy in mild-winter climates. This may prevent them from dropping their leaves completely in fall and then they may fail to leaf out sufficiently in spring to shade the fruit. If you think this is the problem, there is little you can do other than perhaps finding some other way to shade the fruit, such as covering the fruiting branches of the tree with floating row covers. These would also help to keep off pests. In future, encourage dormancy in winter by letting the tree go a bit dry in fall. Clean, prune and dormant spray after the leaves have dropped off. Mulch, but don’t feed it in fall, then feed lightly in spring as the buds are opening.
I have sticky ooze on 2 of my lemons. They were close enough together to be sticking to one another, I separated them and remove the ooze, spray them wit the tree spray but don’t know what caused this. Should I rub them with oil or what? Other fruits look OK. Thanks for your answer.E Johnson
I have a peach tree that has the sap comming off of it. I have been trying to reasurch the cause and possible solution, I have found this on your page, but not all of my peaches are rotting and I was wondering if the good ones were safe to eat or if I should just scrap this years yield start fixing the problem and wait till next year.
Yes i live in the town of apple valley ca i have a apricot tree it was producing a lot of fruit this yr i notice sap coming out every where there was little eggs inside of sap dropping the fruit has brown spots all over i have sprayed tree oil on tree is there something else i can do tks
There is little you can do this year to correct problems with your apricot tree. However, you could try applying earthworm castings as a mulch under the drip line. Water normally. The castings contain chitinase which can gradually be absorbed by the tree. Chitinase is an enzyme that destroys chitin. The exoskeletons of insects are made of chitin. This treatment should also get rid of ants. Ants carry pests onto trees.
Your best defense, however, is to apply dormant spray in winter. But first, once leaves have fallen, consult a pruning manual and prune the tree properly. Then scrape the bark, paying special attention to all crevasses and joints to remove any visible pests and clean out their hiding places. Next, rake under the tree, removing all debris, twigs, leaves and old mulch and send it to the dump. Replace with a layer of fresh mulch. Finally spray the tree with dormant spray recommended for apricot trees, going over every bit of the bark carefully with spray. If it rains within a day or two, spray again. After one month spray a second time, and one month later spray a third time. All deciduous fruit trees need winter pruning followed by dormant spray or they inevitably fall prey to pests and diseases.
I moved into a new home and a small Peach tree was on my lawn looking awful.. No fruit and think it was dying.. I pruned it back and cleaned it up and this year I have many peaches on it. It is a very small tree but the peaches are good size. I am finding sticky stuff oozing out on a few and also dark spots on some. I cannot visually see any bugs but some of the leaves have little holes so something is eating at it. What should I do?
Peach trees are prey to a flock of pests and diseases and unusually hot temperatures this year are exacerbating problems. Most problems you are having with fruit are more likely caused by disease and not by pests. Remove and discard any damaged fruit, or eat the good parts if part of the fruit are edible. Make sure none are left lying on the ground. Check beneath leaves and squish any caterpillars you see. However, a few holes in leaves are not serious. Clean up any debris and fallen fruit under the tree and replace with fresh mulch. Check the trunk for ants and if you find some, spread earthworm castings over the roots surrounding the trunk beginning a foot or two away from the trunk. This will get rid of ants that bring pests. Next winter after leaves fall, refer to a pruning manual and prune the tree, Then apply dormant spray three times in November, December and January. All peach trees will eventually get peach leaf curl if they are not dormant sprayed in winter.
Hello….I have a 4th year Red Haven that is giving me many peaches this year. Last year’s were delicious and we are looking forward them. My problem is that some have black dots on them and other have a caved-in “cavern” with crystal looking particles all over in it. I removed the ones that are on the tree and it was only 2-3 peaches at this time. I am afraid to spray anything this close to harvest as here in Iowa it could be in the next 3 weeks or so. Any ideas what i could be dealing with? And any suggestions? Thank You!
Your question reached me today in February, yet you obviously wrote it last summer. I’m sorry this somehow fell through the cracks. I have a partner, a Master Gardener who out of the goodness of his heart helps me with this blog as a public service, just as I answer the questions for the same purpose of helping people and not for financial gain. So even though this answer is late I hope it will be helpful.
Your Redhaven peach tree is suffering from Bacterial Spot Disease. Unfortunately, Redhaven peach trees have only moderate resistance to this disease. Biscoe, Blazing Star, Candor, Contender, Harrow Beauty, Harrow Diamond, PF1, PF12A, PF24-007, PF27A and Starfire have excellent resistance. The easiest thing to do is to cut down and replace your tree with one of these resistant varieties. Short of that, I recommend being very attentive to dormant spray in winter including cleaning up the ground under the tree and spraying several times in winter before buds open. Also spray in all cracks and crevasses and do this task on a dry day. Be sure to pick up amy fallen fruit. Always thin fruit properly and in a timely fashion and renew mulch annually after pruning and spraying in late winter.
Wet weather and windy and sandy sites can make Bacterial Spot disease worse. Be sure to do your dormant spraying on dry days. Also try to protect this tree from wind. Screening the tree from wind with thick hedge, fence or burlap windshield can be beneficial, but be sure it does not cast a shadow on the tree. Additionally watch for blowing dust or sand. In dry weather a nearby dirt road generating clouds of dust can be a culprit! If you can find a way to shield your tree from these abrasive problems, its health might be greatly improved.
My peach tree is secreting juice falling from its branches and leaves. there are so many honey bees around it….i want to know the reason behind the secretion ……its mid oct
Peaches have many problems. Sudden climate changes and extreme heat might be the cause or possibly borers or disease. See what I wrote another reader: https://www.patwelsh.com/…/preventing-sap-from-oozing-from-peach-and-nectarine-fruit/.
I have two peach trees. Living in VA. Both trees had many flowers. Both started producing fruit.All the fruit dropped off one infected by ants. The second one produced peaches that now is oozing sap. What can I do to treat? What is dormant spray?
I have already answered this question in detail elsewhere on this blog. I suggest you read all the Q/A’s on peaches for more details. Basically, growing the wrong variety for your climate zone, insect damage, insufficient shade caused by not enough leaves on the tree and unseasonable temperature swings are just a few of the problems that can cause oozing and falling of immature fruit of peach trees.
I would like to add, however, that global warming and climate change are making problems with peaches even worse than normal. When planting a peach tree always choose the best variety recommended for your area. Be sure to prune properly according to a reputable pruning handbook. Peaches need more foliage than most other fruit trees. (Refer to your local Master Gardeners and Agricultural Extension for advice appropriate for your state and geographic area.)
You asked me regarding dormant spray. Dormant sprays are sprays used several times in winter (usually at least once a month during winter months) to kill insect pests and diseases that are over-wintering on the tree. Begin using dormant spray after all leaves fall from the tree. Also scratch off any loose bark and debris. In Mediterranean climates, fruit trees are normally pruned in autumn after all leaves fall but in colder climates pruning might be done at other times of year. Ask your Farm Advisor for appropriate timing in your area. Also ask your Farm Advisor or your local farm or garden supply store to suggest the best dormant spray to use in your area. You will need to wear gloves and protective clothing and to purchase an appropriate sprayer. Be sure to go over every bit of the branches and the trunk and all crevasses with the spray. After pruning and before spraying, clean up the ground under the tree and send all debris to the dump. Don’t add to the compost pile.