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Volume: 11

Issue number: 9

Create warm and cosy rooms; nursery guide; budget buys

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Latest in Q&A

I have a young Nectarine plant whose new leaves are thickened, highly distorted and vary from light green to pale pink in colour. I’m worried there’s something seriously wrong with them.

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Hi, I have recently subscribed to your magazine after flicking through one in a waiting room. I wanted to purchase the one i was reading which was Volume 10 #2. The link on your webpage says error. Can you tell me how I can order this. Thanks

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My tomato plants seem to develop fruit okay initially, but then every tomato gets a large black spot on its bottom and won’t go on to develop properly.

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I’ve got a lemon tree that has large black bugs on it that stink and also some green ones that look a bit similar. What are they and what should I do about them?

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My Plum tree’s leaves have holes in them; some are so big all that’s left are the veins. There are small and slimy black slugs on the leaves.

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Q&A

Q: I have a young Nectarine plant whose new leaves are thickened, highly distorted and vary from light green to pale pink in colour. I’m worried there’s something seriously wrong with them.

From: Stuart

Maitland

NSW

This problem is attributed to Peach Leaf Curl, a common fungal disease of stone fruit. The best way to reduce its impact is to manually remove the worst-affected leaves and even prune off some stems. The most effective control, however, is a spray of Copper oxychloride, which isn’t a chemical pesticide as such so it can be used safely in the home garden. Spraying must be done just before the buds break (early bud-swell) in early spring and again shortly after. Sometimes an application during winter, while the plant is dormant, will reduce the occurrence of the disease in spring.