Blackthorn/Damson Peach curl ?

[MisterB]

Hi all,

I'm new to all this, in the first proper year of growing fruit and veg on my smallish plot.

I've got a plum tree, damson and a long mainly blackthorn hedge. The above picture is from the hedge, but similar is occurring to some of the damson fruit. The Plum is unaffected thankfully.

I did, under advice try a (sparsely admittedly) winter tree wash sprayed on the hedge, but it seems to have had no real effect.

I'm looking for advice as to what I can do now, and over next winter to really try and get rid of the problem. I cant really remove all the affected fruit and leaves on the hedge, but I am trying to remove the pale and distended damsons when I see them.

Any advice gratefully accepted :-)

Cheers,
MrB.

[WendyC]

Are you sure it's not distortions caused by aphid damage?

[MisterB]

Hi, No, I'm not really sure, I'm pretty much a novice.

I do know that a lot of the new growth in the hedge is definitely suffering from something that looks like leaf curl (based on me Googling). The damson isn't really showing that, but a percentage of the fruits are looking similar to the one from the hedge in the photo, though perhaps without the kind of dusty appearance on the outside.

[Bigmallly]

I don't know much about fruit trees but to be honest, I would be happy with that.

[Guest]

I also thought aphid, but as the fruit is distorted I had a gurgle and I am sorry to say it is pocket plum and all you can do is remove and destroy the affected parts.

Pocket Plum - Taphrina pruni | NatureSpot
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=199

Please don't be put off as it is one of those things set out to challenge us gardeners

[MisterB]

Hi,

Many thanks for that, looks like you're correct.

Doesnt make great reading :-( I've been out and it looks like its prevalent throughout the 30 odd metre run of hedge. I guess I'll perform a ruthless cut back over the next summer/winter destroying the infection I can get to. I didn't see many unaffected sloes. Will read up on that further and see what I can treat the remaining hedge with before next years growing season.

Onwards and upwards :-)

Thanks again,
MrB