Pink maggots in plums

[Marb67]

Well here I go again with my first year my plumb tree fruits. Lovely big delicious fruits (yes I know tree is too big and may have to be cut down- see other post) BUT in almost every one there is a pink maggot inside. I mean what are the chances of me getting yet more pests ? I visit our local free wild orchard in the park and all the plmbs picked over the years are almost all worm free. Why do mine have to be riddled from the outset ? Even finding them in the perfect looking fruits with no tiny hole in.

[veggiechicken]

Oh dear, Marb Another one for the Big Boy's Book of Garden Pests. You'll soon have collected them all!

This advice may help.............https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ums_96483.html

[ameno]

Ah, yes, the plum moth.
If it's any consolation, the later plums from that tree probably won't be affected. Damaged fruit ripen early, so caterpillar infested fruit will ripen before clean fruit.

I find it seems to vary by variety somewhat, too. I have a Victoria where the first half of the crop is always infested. But I have a Czar not 2 metres away which usually only has maybe a dozen affected fruits on the entire tree.

[nickdub]

most likely source of infection is a tree in a neighbor's garden which they had already attacked in previous years

I posted a thread back in the Spring about pheromone traps, how effective they are etc ...

[ameno]

most likely source of infection is a tree in a neighbor's garden which they had already attacked in previous years

I posted a thread back in the Spring about pheromone traps, how effective they are etc ...

Effective, but monstrously expensive. They're just not worth it.

[nickdub]

Effective, but monstrously expensive. They're just not worth it.

Depends really on how many plums you grow, and how bothered you are about sharing them with maggots .

I only use one trap and just buy refills each year which cuts the cost down a bit. Its not a 100% block on maggots done like that of course, but it does keep a lid on things a bit and helps stop the problem spiraling out of control - caught about 50 moths in the one I use this year. That was just the pheromone lure bought new - I re-used the sticky pad from last year and added a bit of extra sticky with some fruit tree grease I had from ages ago.

[Marb67]

I will say the later plumbs have no maggots so it must be the early ones affected. That said, the plumbs are the most delicious I have ever tasted.

[roitelet]

I will say the later plumbs have no maggots so it must be the early ones affected. That said, the plumbs are the most delicious I have ever tasted.

Success!!!!!!