Bagging Apples - An honest look at this organic pest control method

[@cynthiafisher9907]

I live in the Boise area and I have used the maggot shield socks from Raintree Nursery, like nylon socks you try on shoes with, with a twist tie. I just have 3 apple trees(over 400 apples,) and it was way too much work, especially at harvest time when I was tired and didn’t want to spend the time taking them off. They did work, however! I went back to spraying the trees, mainly with spinosad, so it’s organic, and I use a degree day model, so I have only had to spray twice so far this year.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I hope you enjoy this week's video. This method of protecting our apples from Codling Moth and other pests ended up working. But I wasn't wild about the end results. What methods have you tried to organically keep pests off your apples?

[@CreatedRenewed]

We bagged our apples with plastic bags (we used treat bags with twist ties around the apple stems) this year for the first time. Didn't have a single apple crack like that. I've only seen that happen when our apples were past the prime picking date and started to go soft/overripe. We did cut slightly larger holes in the corners than what you showed, and we also didn't have any difference in the skin of our apples. Could be the climate difference, or maybe we lucked out and got slightly more airflow. Thanks for the video, it's good to see others' experiences too!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I think it might have been your climate. The cracks started well before the fruit had started to ripen. We found a new solution this year called Organza bags that worked much better.

[@terinbee9198]

I used mesh fruit bags with drawstring on my Fujis this summer, and the results were outstanding! They were very affordable on Amazon, designed for this purpose, and lets in air and light. We did have a LITTLE damage from birds, who attempted to eat thru the bag and weren’t successful but DID cause some gouges in a few. MINIMAL codling moth damage, only on a few (I was a little late getting them all bagged up). Of course it’s time consuming, but absolutely worth it to me!

[@vistaprime]

We usually have a 100% coddling moth rate in our apples. Can you tell me the ideal time to place bags over apples to protect them from the worms. As soon as the blooms drop or is it better to wait until the apples start to form. We are using the similar organza mesh fruit protection bags you used which allow full sunlight through. But we want to time this perfectly so the blooms are pollinated and spent and not enough time for moths to have laid eggs. Can you provide some guidance to me on this. thanks

[@sislertx]

They make bagging netting type stuff that keeps bugs out but breaths...i used them to catch blueblonnet seeds

[@vicvicandmochi8868]

Thank you for sharing your idea i have fugi and lots of fruits in it still little right now

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome!

[@cheftoniallen2413]

Hey my dad used paper bags with a twist tie

[@dianasmith2326]

Have you ever heard of the product Surround. A Kaolin product that you sprayon fruit/veggies to protect from just about any pest. We use in our orchard and on high pest items like squash. Bought at Gardens Alive!. It works.

[@Mileshka22]

wonderful video and explanation. thsnk you!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You are welcome!

[@jmr]

I don't know how much but they say plastic bags have PFAS in them to prevent sticking. That sort of defeats the idea of using them to be organic. Hopefully it's less harmful the the pesticides though.

[@NickDumitru]

That just looks like they'll boil in the bag. Usually they sell netting bags for this purpose to allow air and light but keep out the bugs. Definitely don't use plastic bags. In Japan they have special paper bags for this purpose but I think the slip string netting bags are much easier to use. I can't imagine those apples were happy being boiled in mini greenhouses like that.

[@gp1003]

Another good method is to use nylon mesh bags. You buy those + the fruit bagger and you can protect all your fruits using a common extension pole without having to climb a ladder. Type qyfirst in Amazon search bar or go to the qyfirst website to see what I'm talking about.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

This video is a little old. The last 2 years we have used meas Organza bags and they work much better. I did an updated video last fall.

[@fernly2]

Maybe you could try different colors of ankle hose. I've found that plants like red.

[@vistaprime]

We usually have a 100% coddling moth rate in our apples. Can you tell me the ideal time to place bags over apples to protect them from the worms. As soon as the blooms drop or is it better to wait until the apples start to form. We are using organza mesh fruit protection bags, which allow full sunlight an rain to run through and allow it to breath as well. is suggest this instead of the socks as socks you need to somehow tie and it doesn't blend in well with the tree. We want to time this perfectly so the blooms are pollinated and spent and not enough time for moths to have laid eggs. Can you provide some guidance to me on this. thanks

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

BTW - this is a pretty old video reporting on a method we only tried once. We now use the organza bags with great success. You need to check with your local extension agency. Most will send out a report about when you should spray for coddling moth. Obviously I don't spray, but using that report as a guide will help. We try to get the bags on as soon as the fruit has set and we have thinned.

[@great-garden-watch]

Hi all when do you bag? Flowers are gone…it’s early May..i see a bunch did get pollinated. Also Ive used mesh bags but i was late last year. Knee highs would cost a fortune on my 8 trees

[@Dobromir_Chodkowski]

good video

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad you enjoyed

[@holly_kay5570]

Good idea, but maybe row cover material would allow air flow.

[@Ariel-xz8lg]

Yes knee high hose.

[@jeffferris2783]

Could removal of bags say 2 to 3 weeks before ripening reduce skin damage yet avoid damage from insects?

[@mericusta1988]

exactly. I heard that too

[@Gingercat224]

Have you tried the organza bags from eBay or Amazon?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes, this is actually a pretty old video. We've been doing the organza bags for the last 3 or 4 seasons with much better success.

[@angeliagarcia6304]

You didn't pan out to show us the size of your tree.

[@oxydol3456]

Wonder if some farming robots can do this bagging task instead of human.

[@Javastar18]

Hi Rich, Enjoyed your video. Have you tried some White Organza Bags 5X7 with draw strings. Ive heard from many that they work get. Just bought some to try this year. Let me know what you think. Regards, John

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

John, yes I did this video 2 seasons ago. Last year we used the organza bags and they worked well

[@Javastar18]

@@StoneyAcresGardening Rich, thanks for letting me know. Did you remove the bags a few weeks ahead of harvest or did you just remove the bags when you removed the apple from the tree simultaneously?