Table of contents
- Means for combating cherry fruit flies
- chickens & ducks
- nematodes
- protection of the soil
- protection of the fruit
- Plant early ripening cherry varieties
If the cherries are already infested, countermeasures can no longer be taken. Therefore, control must already take place at the time of egg laying.
Means for combating cherry fruit flies
Cherry fruit flies overwinter in the soil and begin laying eggs in May or June. Here they are dependent on warm and dry weather as possible, so the flight time of these insects shifts depending on the weather conditions. They mainly fly to the yellow fruits to lay their eggs there, so they can be fought with yellow boards. These yellow boards attract the flies with their color and an attractant, and are coated with glue so that the flies stick to them and die. About two of these yellow boards are required for every meter of tree height.
chickens & ducks
Chickens and ducks are natural enemies of cherry fruit flies. So if you keep these animals in your garden, you can keep the cherry fruit fly population in check by letting the birds scratch under the fruit trees in autumn and winter. They eat the pupae that overwinter in the ground and also devour the fallen fruit that may still be there cherry maggots condition.
nematodes
Nematodes are commercially available. They are placed in water and poured onto the ground around the cherry tree. From there they spread in the soil and feed on the larvae of the cherry fruit fly as a parasite. With this type of combat, it is important to remember that nematodes cannot tolerate sunlight. They may therefore only be deployed in the evening or when the sky is overcast. Likewise, the nematodes need a reasonably moist soil to be able to move. Nematodes are useful for controlling many pests, but the best time to use them against cherry fruit fly larvae is in June.
protection of the soil
A film laid under the cherry tree prevents the larvae from penetrating the ground to pupate and hibernate there. At the same time, all the cherries that have already rotted and fallen from the tree due to infestation with larvae collect there. In this way, the infestation can be reduced in the next year - however, care must be taken not to open the fallen fruit to dispose of it in your own compost, because then these pests would start again from there next spring spread.
protection of the fruit
A crop protection net around the crown of the cherry tree prevents the cherry fruit flies from laying their eggs in the cherries. In order to keep these small flies, some of which are less than five millimeters in size, it has to be woven very finely. It is also important to ensure that there are no gaps that the flies could use as an entry path.
Plant early ripening cherry varieties
Cherries that ripen early are usually free of maggots and worms. In their case, the pre-ripening of the fruits is before the flight time of the cherry fruit flies, so they are of no interest to these insects as food for their larvae and are spared. At a orchard, which is newly planted, it should therefore be considered whether one of the early cherry varieties can be planted to prevent infestation from the outset.
garden editorial I write about everything that interests me in my garden.
Learn more about fruit trees
Life on Mallorca: highlight almond blossom
Life on Mallorca offers a lot more than sun, summer, beach and Ballermann. The beginning of the year on the popular holiday island is all about blossoming almond trees. We'll tell you when and where you can best enjoy the almond blossom on Mallorca.
Cutting sour cherries: 21 tips for the right cut
In order for a sour cherry to remain productive year after year, it must be pruned regularly. Wood that has been removed must be removed and new fruit wood must be promoted. This only works if the "editor" knows the editing rules.
Is the ornamental peach edible? | 15 tips for care and cutting
The ornamental peach can be a decorative addition to the garden as early as March, when the trees, which are up to three meters high, are in bloom. Here we tell you how to look after them and whether their fruits are edible.
20 old apple varieties | List of old apples in & around Germany
Hardly any type of fruit is as diverse as the apple. The number of apple varieties worldwide is estimated at over 20,000. Old apple varieties are those that were discovered before 1950. We have compiled a list of popular, old varieties for you.
Peach Tree Diseases: Leaves curl or turn yellow
Among the fruit trees, the peach tree is one of the most susceptible to diseases. It often has to contend with fungal diseases such as curling disease. Here you can find out which other tree diseases can affect it, how to recognize them and how to fight them successfully.
Half-trunk cherry and apple trees: planting distance and care
Fruit trees definitely belong in every garden. But what to do if the garden is too small for a large tree? Then trees that were grown as half-stems can help. They take up less space, but deliver lots of fruit. More about this here.
