FG4

Fungus (4)

Fungus (4)

Fungus (4)

Peach Leaf Curl (1859)

We have a small home orchard with 4 10-year-old peach trees and some smaller 3 year old trees. Each year we have had severe curly leaf and upon ripening the fruit have always got brown rot, so that we may have gotten a dozen edible fruit off each tree. We had more or less given up on the orchard. One tree had silver leaf badly enough that we had it scheduled for removal. In august 2023 , before budburst, Glen sprayed the trees with his FG4. A month later when the trees were bud bursting he sprayed again. When the leaves came there was no curly leaf on any of the trees. A few weeks later there was a small outbreak, especially on the tree with silverleaf, the others stayed 98% clean. With a 3rdspray at this time the infection stopped. At harvest time the trees were laden with fruit, in spite of our thinning efforts. The silverleaf tree ripened first, and no brown rot was present. The fruit shriveled before any rotting was evident. We were swamped with fruit. Interestingly any silverleaf that has appeared early on has dropped off, so you would not know the tree has silverleaf at this end of the season. The other trees are all ripening with good loads of fruit and brown rot is not a problem either on the tree or after picking. If you would like to talk to us about our results please phone on NZ 021416971 Pete McLennan and Carina Chambers Maraetotora Hawkes Bay NZ. (1859)

Over the last two seasons FG4 provided very good control of fungal problems on apples, grapes ( eating and wine grapes), peaches, tamarillos, potatoes, zucchini and pumpkin. Of particular note was our control on the grapes. Through February and March in the Te Puke area we had temperatures of around 28 deg C, high humidity and at least three rain events of around 280mm (once within 24 hrs.). No disease was seen on both the eating and wine grapes during this period. (4)

.... on our trial crops, we have had very little problem with nearly all the common fungal problems over the last two seasons. We have used no other fungal controls than FG4 during this period. Reports back from three commercial vineyards have also been very positive. As they still used some other fungal controls, we can not claim all their success, however all these growers said their incidence of particular diseases, were far less than their neighbours. Our suggestion to commercial growers is to reduce their usage of other products as they feel comfortable with the influence of FG4. (BdMax Winter 2009 newsletter.) (4)

Very good has worked well. A little wet sclerotinia here and there but overall good results [on kiwifruit] (46)

Overall a good crop. Started spraying at the beginning of the season and was consistent. No powdery mildew although it is not normally a big problem. Will know better after picking - on Grapes (46)

I am sure it did help [our strawberries]. There was already some botrytis before the first application of FG4, once the initial outbreak was over there was not an ongoing problem. (46)

Two years ago we started using FG4 as a possible solution to the varicoses. In addition we applied Thermomax prior to and during the colder parts of the winter. This year the fruit is almost completely clear of varicoses, by far the best fruit we have seen (4)

I thought you might like to hear about our orchard results using Thermomax and FG4. As you know our lemon orchard had a difficult start to life with a great deal of rabbit and possum damage during the early years. Although the trees have survived and the production has been reasonable the fruit has always had a lot of varicoses and most years the cold snaps have created a moderate amount of fruit damage. We have applied abundant amounts of compost and had a consistent compost tea program in place since planting. Soil tests have shown good levels of nutrient in every category except zinc which we addressed about five years ago. Tissue analysis also shows excellent levels in the plant. Nothing we had done seem to help the varicoses. Two years ago we started using FG4 as a possible solution to the varicoses. In addition we applied Thermomax prior to and during the colder parts of the winter. This year the fruit is almost completely clear of varicoses, by far the best fruit we have seen. In addition for the first time we have had no frost damage in spite of having two cold spells, one which lasted for 6 days with low temperatures of minus 3 to minus 6 every night. Thanks so much for developing products that fill that gap between mineral and biological management, when all else failed BD Max worked! (46)

It should be noted we are using the Biodynamic preparations to address the soil conditions that lead to fungal situations rather than 'killing any fungus'. Dr Steiner describes this situation in the sixth lecture of his 'Agriculture Course' and provides some suggestions for its remediation. (BdMax Winter 2009 newsletter.) (4)