Curling leaves on plum tree

Zend

The new leaves that appeared about 2 weeks ago on my plum tree have started to curl. Any ideas anyone?

STORM_2

Are they bumpy as well ? because it sounds like peach leaf curl ( I think thats what its called), its a fungus, the organic way of controlling it will be just to remove the leaves as you spot them curling.Then wash your hands and dont put the leaves in any compost you may have. I have it on my peach tree. But you need to spray pesticides in november apparently.

Lotus-eater

I get this on my plum tree, I ignore it and it never affects it long term. However mine is a established tree and not a newly planted one like yours. I've always thought it was aphids doing it, so a soft soap spray should sort it if it is. Or squash them by hand if you can find them.

annie123

its peach curl, every year I forget to spay in feb, and then spend hours hand picking the worst 50% of leaves off and then a month later the other 50%, then all the leaves come back OK because its too late to get it again.

make sure you don't let the leaves fall on the ground and don't compost them.

Lotus-eater

Plums get peach leaf curl?

More likely to be aphids.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/damsons_feature.shtml

annie123

stone fruits share simular diseases but treat the same.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1997/6-13-1997/peachplum.html

Lotus-eater

Plum pocket is a disease in plums caused by Taphrina communis. Leaf symptoms are similar with peach leaf curl and the plums appear to be distorted, wrinkled, and puffy. This disease is not considered a serious problem in most commercially cultivated plum varieties.

My plums have never been distorted, wrinkled or puffy


http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0602/pocket_plum.asp
Aphids Unless you are very very unlucky and your plums look like those.

annie123

pleased to hear you plums are in good health;)

as I put in my jobs to do list for june as it should be done anyway,

Watch for aphids on fruit trees, spray with soapy water

STORM_2

Funny, I have a plum tree right next to my peach tree and only the peach tree has had the little wrinkly devils!