Organic Codling Moth Control - Bagging Apples

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Hey Guys! I hope you enjoy today's video! We are super happy with the results of bagging apples with Organza Bags to keep out codling moth and other pests!

[@patrapper7367]

I'm assuming you still get some damage with the carling up against the bag on the fruit is that right. Also do birds still pick at it even with the bag on or is that a distraction for them

[@raybennett4976]

Thanks for this great suggestion...the organza bags worked brilliantly! It took a little time to bag each apple but it was well worth it. Last year I lost virtually all of my apples to the coddling moth, but this year with the bags, I only had one of the little buggers get into an apple in an organza bag...apparently I didn't pull the drawstring tight enough. I also tried using bags made from my wife's old nylons, but the little worms just bored right through them, so that experiment was a failure. Four suggestions though... 1.I found that if I cut off the extra cloth that's above the draw string on the bag, it's easier to get the bag around the fruit because it doesn't get caught as easily on leaves or branches. This made the bagging process much faster. 2. I bought 5x7 bags but even that size turned out to be too small for some of my bigger apples, such as Mutzu. So, for varieties larger than medium size, use a bag larger than 5x7. 3. I thought 100 bags would be plenty for my 3 small trees but I was surprised at how quickly I ran out and had to order more. If I were to do it again, I'd order 100 5x7 bags and 50 6x9 ones. 4. And, if you're really good at bagging...Once the bag is secured around the apple, try wrapping one of the drawstrings around an adjacent bud or leaf. That way, when the apple gets ripe, it won't fall to the ground and possibly get injured, but rather will hang from the branch telling you that it's ready to be eaten! I've tried everything to get rid of the coddling moth and this is the only solution that really worked. Thanks again!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I'm so glad this worked for you! Our 2 trees were just loaded this year. We ended up buying 300 more bags and used 400 for the year and that still didn't get them all covered. Of the uncovered apples only about 25% didn't have coddling moth damage, and very few of the bagged ones. With so many apples this year this was the test! And it really worked well for us!

[@jingnie2037]

😂yy y i

[@raybennett4976]

​@@StoneyAcresGardening Update. I found a few instances this year that the moth larvae was able to burrow through the bag if the apple was right against it so I've been centering my apples inside the bags. I've settled on using only 6x9 bags. Also, a few times the larvae apparently was able to squeeze by the drawstring and into the apple. One good thing though, if the larvae does make it into the apple, it will have a very hard time getting out of the bag and I can squash it with my fingers to great satisfaction. That should also cut down on next year's moth population.

[@raybennett4976]

@@StoneyAcresGardening Another update: This year, a fair number of bagged apples have worms. Apparently, some worms were able to squeeze into the bag at the tie string but others gnawed their way right through the bag. I think that the bags in addition to a few evening sprays of Monterey insecticide will cut the infestation down. I'm also planning to double-bag some of the apples next year as an experiment. I caught a few worms and at least one moth that were unable to escape the bag after ruining the apple, but somehow, most escaped.

[@WAWG716]

We will definitely try this with our peach tree. Thanks for the video!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome!!

[@SamWard208]

Thanks for sharing. This has actually been a practice growing fruit in Japan for years. Your Honeycrisp were beautiful!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks for watching!

[@yayayayayayayayful]

Thanks for sharing, I used to apply paper bags on my backyard apple tree, it requires bag removal to get apples to become red before picking in the fall. Your idea is definitely worth trying!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks for watching!

[@garyroberts2563]

Listen to this guy. It works.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yep, we had beautiful harvest last year!!

[@elainemazer737]

I tried your method this year. I attached the bags as soon as the immature apples were about 1/2 inch in diameter. I was hopeful until this week when I discovered that more than half of the current crop is infected. Can you suggest some ideas why this might have happened as most folks are successful.

[@crestfinancehrconsulting6727]

Very helpful video, just subbed. I have also my apples but wondering how to get rid of the codling moth - so this really help me. Thanks

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lwjenson]

Thanks so much for this video!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You are so welcome!

[@lalithaganesan3372]

At what stage do we need to put the bag. Very new to gardening. Really appreciate your time

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

As soon as the fruit is set and they start growing. We just put them on while we are thinning the fruit.

[@lalithaganesan3372]

@@StoneyAcresGardening thank you

[@MattyDemello]

I honestly put the extra large net bags covering an entire branch soon as pedals fall and then when I go to thin I put the smaller ones around each apple. Just to be safe BUT im still very new too.

[@lalithaganesan3372]

@@MattyDemello thank you

[@michaelo6124]

Honeycrisp is a naturally resistant apple to coddling moth.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

That has not been my experience. Any fruit not bagged gets coddling moth with both my early fuji and the Honeycrisp.

[@michaelo6124]

@@StoneyAcresGardening OK, probably you are right. I've read somewhere that honeycrisp are resistant. But it might be a hearsay. .

[@melissastrack6831]

Rick, the organza bags to protect tree fruit is a brilliant solution ! Do you think they would also work for tomatoes ? Thank you , Melissa

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I don't know why not. My only worry would be depending on variety they might out grow the bags.

[@JollyJumbuk]

Exactly at what fruit size in spring did you apply the bags?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

We try to get them on as soon as possible. We do them the same day that we thin the fruit.

[@beamann2422]

Hey Rick, I’m thinking this might be a good solution for our grapes. Or do you do something different for your vines?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

The only real pest problem we have with grapes is birds, so we just cover our vines with netting. But this could work for grapes as well, but I would suggest going with a bigger sized bag so they have more space to grow.

[@kaylabryson1932]

What day was the day you thinned and bagged?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I have no idea. Shortly after the fruit set and started to form. Maybe 2 weeks after we saw the fruit forming??

[@kaylabryson1932]

@@StoneyAcresGardening ok thanks . You do have an idea ... and thanks for it 😅

[@nspctor7729]

Recommended when the fruit is around 1" in diameter. For the upcoming season, I'll also spray dormant oil BEFORE flowering to kill off any eggs on bark and leaves. Wish I had known about the bags last season...lost 95% to worms