APPLE ATTACK
Maggots can wreak havoc
Q We always prune our apple tree in the fall before the snow flies, and during the past two years it has grown a lot of new branches and leaves but doesn’t flower very much. Once the flowers become apples they rot from the inside or bruise on the outside. None of the apples are edible. Some people have said there are too many leaves, so the apples don’t get enough sun. Some have said that my husband put lawn fertilizer too close to the tree. Some even said that the tree now has maggots. What do you think is the problem?
A The cause of the problem is difficult to pinpoint without seeing the affected fruit, but let’s give it a try based on the clues you have given me.
The lawn fertilizer could certainly be a problem. If the lawn is being fertilized under the tree and within the drip line (outer edge of the tree canopy) the high nitrogen could be affecting the development of the flowers. You also mention that there are a lot of leaves. This is a sign that the tree is getting too much nitrogen, which will cause the tree to produce more foliage and less fruit. The key here is to stop fertilizing the lawn in the vicinity of the tree.
The rot you describe from the inside or bruising from the outside could both be from the same cause: apple maggot. By eating their way through the apple, the maggots encourage the rot to form, and that rot will manifest itself as both rot on the inside
The rot on the inside of the apple and the bruising on the outside could both be from the same cause: apple maggot.
of the apple and bruising on the outside.
Q Last spring I purchased and planted about a dozen strawberry plants. They looked healthy and strong in late May and then … nothing. No blossoms, no fruit. I am pretty sure they didn’t have any frost at the wrong time. This year I hope to be picking strawberries. What can I do to ensure a good crop?
A We could go into a long list of reasons why the strawberries did not produce, but I have a feeling there may only be one definitive answer, and that is that the plants were just not mature enough. It usually takes at least one growing season for the plants to start producing both flowers and fruit.
There is one thing you can do to help them along this season. Give them a good feed with some well-rotted steer manure. Just work the manure into the soil in and around the plants, being careful not to harm the roots. Putting a three-inch layer around the berries will work just as well, and act as a mulch to maintain moisture in the soil.
Q I’ve started some vegetable seeds (tomato and cucumber) in covered trays and they have sprouted through, so now do I remove the lid and mist daily, or do I wait to see if every one is going to come up? Do I keep the dome on them?
A Heat can build up very quickly in an enclosed container that sits out in the sun. If you have the sprouts in full sun it is best to open the dome to allow it to cool inside. You can simply prop it open with a stick. Once you are certain no further seeds are going to sprout you should remove the cover.
Transplant the sprouts into individual pots when they have grown two full sets of leaves. When you’re ready to transplant, water the plants and the ground where they’ll be planted. It’s best to plant on a cloudy day, so the heat of the sun won’t cause wilting. Water your new transplants once a day for about a week until they are well established. If the plants start to wilt, cover them or give them shade until they revive.