Protect Nectarine Fruit from Scarring

Do you want fruit from your nectarine tree that looks like this?

Western flower thrips and damage to nectarine

I didn't think so. The scarring of nectarine fruit like this is caused by a very tiny flying insect that rips at the skin of nectarine fruit beginning when they are very small. This ripping is caused by their feeding.

Thrips damage to nectarine fruit.

These tiny insects have mouthparts like a tiny saw that rips at the skin. The fruit releases juice that this insect lapse up like a dog and a bowl of water. Once full, the insect leaves and reproduces itself to make more of these flying insects.

Western flower thrips are so small that you can barely see them with your naked eye. A magnifying glass helps. To stop this insect requires the spraying of an insecticide that either comes in contact with the insect and kills it out right or leaves a film on the surface of the fruit that is poisonous to their feeding.

Spinosad by Monterey With hose and applicator; $30

Fortunately, there is a natural pesticide that works quite well on thrips. The name of this pesticide is called Spinosad. Spinosad is a natural product but it is deadly on many insects including "worms" that turn into moths, flower thrips and very young leaf hoppers. You can use it on vegetables, roses and grapes as well.

Spinosad should not be applied over and over without a break. Break up these applications every couple of weeks with other weekly, natural sprays such as insecticidal soaps, Neem oil and pyrethrins. But the most effective spray in the group will be Spinosad.

EZ Wet, a natural spreader and sticker for better thrips control; $17

Always mix natural sprays with natural products that help it to spread over the fruit and stick to it. We recommend a product we carry called EZ Wet, a natural spreader and sticker made from saponins derived from agaves. It cqn be used to help liquid fertilizers penetrate leaf surfaces and is safe enough to use when washing vegetables free of insects and debris.

Begin applying Spinosad with EZ Wet as soon as the petals of the flowers drop from the tree. Repeat this combination of sprays weekly until the fruit is harvested. Always wash fruit before eating even if these control measures are natural. It is the right thing to do.

Viragrow Delivers!