Preventing & Treating Fireblight
On Apples, Pears, Asian Pears, Crabapples and more
Organic or Conventional!
Conventional
- Mix 1 tsp to 2 tsp of Monterey Garden Phos or Agrifos per gallon of water.
- Spray solution as flower buds begin to swell but never on open flowers.
- Repeat every 1 to 2 months as long as wet conditions persist (until approx May).
- During high disease pressure (rain or heavy dew) use the higher rate shorter application period.
Organic
- Mix 1 tsp to 2 tsp of Monterey Complete Disease Control per gallon of water.
- Spray solution as flower buds begin to swell but never on open flowers.
- Repeat every 7 to 10 days as long as wet conditions persist (until approx May).
- During high disease pressure (rain or heavy dew) use the higher rate shorter application period.
After Symptoms Appear
If Fireblight symptoms appear later in the spring it is too late to prevent. Prune blackened stems off at least a couple inches below the darkness, ensuring that once the cut is made there is no darkness inside the remaining stem. If so, remove stem a few inches lower. Be sure to dispose of fireblight infected material into the trash. Do not leave laying on the ground or put in the green can.
IMPORTANT: When pruning off Fireblight or pruning fireblight prone plants be sure to sterilize your pruners in between EACH CUT. You may use a 1 part to 10 part bleach solution, a 1 part to 4 part vinegar solution or Lysol spray.
