Lemon tree leaf curl..

[Jim]

Anyone got a cure for Lemon tree leaf curl and what can cause it?



It is not effecting the Lemon fruit, plenty of them..

[lion]

Got the same problem on a Pomello

[Stank Olly]

I know nothing about horticulture but google steered me here: http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 27565.html

hope it helps

[Jim]

Thanks Stank!! I did find a few forums but none related to the climate here, I have tried the usual stuff, soapy water/ant repellant, it does not effect the crop as I posted but looks dreadful..

[Jim]

I agree Maggie but many Lemon tree's have this here, I was told it is ants, but have treated for those, then they said Aphids that the ants eat, no Aphids on my tree, I do feed regularly and we do get huge lemons regularly, and I do mean huge and heavy, I will again go the the garden centre the one you mention is a couple of minutes down the road, I guess they will sell me another potion of some kind, will post of any beneficial cure.

Cheers all.

[Drambuie]

I agree Maggie but many Lemon tree's have this here, I was told it is ants, but have treated for those, then they said Aphids that the ants eat, no Aphids on my tree, I do feed regularly and we do get huge lemons regularly, and I do mean huge and heavy, I will again go the the garden centre the one you mention is a couple of minutes down the road, I guess they will sell me another potion of some kind, will post of any beneficial cure.

Cheers all.

Does the lack of a post mean you did not find a cure ?

I purchased a supposed cure recommended by London Road nursery at €11.00 quite expensive I thought. doesn't seem to have had any effect.

[Jim]

It seemed to solve it's own problems, for this season at least, it has also been a bumper crop of lemons of a good size too..if it re accrues next year I will look for a solution. Thanks

[cyprusmax47]

@ Jim

The problem is the Citrus Leafminer (greek: phyllocnistis) found on all varieties of citrus.
Of course one can treat the pest with the chemical coil like " Admiral "
or "Confidor" but the poison will be in the fruits you are going to consume
which is not really healthy.
Citrus Leafminer like to go for the young new foliage when the tree
was fertilized with too much Nitrate which changes the balance of the leaf
leading to a larger growth and lighter colour.
Many years back I had a farm with 100 Orange trees growing them the
Cypriot way with a lot of fertilizer. When I realized the problem with the
leafminer I changed the method into organic farming and was able to proof
after a couple of years that the phyllocnistis left my farm towards other
farmers plantations.
There is a very nice link which I think will apply to many of us having citrus in the garden.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74137.html

[Drambuie]

Thanks gentlemen.

Was a very interesting read and confirmed I am doing all the wrong things with the assistance of my garden shop experts

My problem is that all the trees are recently planted and the pests love the new growth leaves.

Fortunately oranges and lemons are plentiful in Cyprus but would be nice to grow my own.

[cyprusmax47]

@ Drambuie

As you will have no (or few) fruits on your trees
you have to watch next season when the problem starts
(app May) and use some Admiral or Confidor. You can
apply it with a paint brush on the stem which is better
than to spray around every 2 weeks or so. After you applied
the stuff the waiting time is app 6 month from then to eat
the fruits of the treated tree. Ask for organic fertilizer to improve
your soil quality and use only once in spring (Feb/March) 50 gr of
Nitrate (34-0-0) around each tree. Watering: Lemons like water every 4 days,
about 2 large buckets close to the stem, if you water more often the roots won't
like it.
Good luck!

[Drambuie]

Thank you for the further information.

I shall see how it goes always remembering there is a man on the road with bags of oranges if I do not succeed