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The plum moth. Never knew it existed till this year's plum harvest. I have four different varieties of plum trees and all have been infected - possibly as much as 80% of the fruit. My damson tree is laden with fruit but as they are not ripe yet I can't say to what degree they are infected. This is the first year I've had any experience with the plum moth. Previous years I've enjoyed the harvest of plums blissfully unaware. You can't buy plums for any amount of money which can compare to home grown plums so it is a major disappointment to find a plum moth maggot in almost every plum. I've noticed fruit which ripens early and drops is usually the infected fruit.
I've extensively researched this problem and everywhere is saying 'spraying' is difficult if not impossible due to how do you know the moths are present. As mentioned above pheremone traps are always recommended. And FB interestingly suggests a sacrificial tree.
I can see the logic and benefit of both the traps and the sacrificial tree but personally neither are sufficiently effective for me. Traps are yet another expense to be added to the growing of plums and will catch most of the males but NOT ALL. A sacrificial tree requires more land and will not STOP 100% infection. Personally I want to be able to take a plum of the tree and with 100% confidence bite into it.
Now as to why I am writing this post. I'm thinking next year from the middle of May till the beginning of August I'm going to loosely but completely wrap the trees in builders' debris netting. This may look unsightly but not as unsightly as a maggot infested plum. I can't see how this wouldn't work but as it's never been suggested here or in any online material I have read I'm worried there is a reason why this wouldn't work - a reason I have completely missed.
I would appreciate anyone's views on why this would work or indeed why it would result in failure. Or indeed does anyone do this and has a successful harvest each year. As always thanks in advance.
I've extensively researched this problem and everywhere is saying 'spraying' is difficult if not impossible due to how do you know the moths are present. As mentioned above pheremone traps are always recommended. And FB interestingly suggests a sacrificial tree.
I can see the logic and benefit of both the traps and the sacrificial tree but personally neither are sufficiently effective for me. Traps are yet another expense to be added to the growing of plums and will catch most of the males but NOT ALL. A sacrificial tree requires more land and will not STOP 100% infection. Personally I want to be able to take a plum of the tree and with 100% confidence bite into it.
Now as to why I am writing this post. I'm thinking next year from the middle of May till the beginning of August I'm going to loosely but completely wrap the trees in builders' debris netting. This may look unsightly but not as unsightly as a maggot infested plum. I can't see how this wouldn't work but as it's never been suggested here or in any online material I have read I'm worried there is a reason why this wouldn't work - a reason I have completely missed.
I would appreciate anyone's views on why this would work or indeed why it would result in failure. Or indeed does anyone do this and has a successful harvest each year. As always thanks in advance.
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