Dekers Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn / Sloe) There seems to be a problem with mine this year, I don't remember seeing this before, very misshaped and elongated, and looking like they are dried up, (I struggle with that and all the rain). Anyone got any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Doesnt look like blackthorn to me..the branches arent black and they appear to be thornless.. What ever it is looks like a parasite on the host plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Doesnt look like blackthorn to me..the branches arent black and they appear to be thornless.. What ever it is looks like a parasite on the host plant Ha Ha...its Blackthorn, in my garden, made me several bottles of Sloe Gin last year! Parasite, seems likely, anyone add to that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Could it be buckthorn or damson? What are the flowers like when in bloom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Seems strange, on my phone so photo small are those lighter green bits leaves or fruit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul99 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 It's definitly blackthorn - I've seen the very same thing on a few bushes around here although not quite as thickly as that - half the sloes were like that the other half OK and it seemed to be randomly distributed over the bush too not one particular branch affected. From what I remember of last year these odd sloes drop off early and by the time you come to pick the sloes there is no sign of the odd ones. I wondered what it could be and came to the same conclusion that it was probably a parasite or disease of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 The ones in the pictures look very similar to the sloes near me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) Its Taphrina pruni i think..Its a plant pathogen which causes Pocket gall,sometimes known as Bladder Gall..Prune out the twigs around the distorted fruit..They'll be infected to.. INFO HERE Hope this helps. :good: Edited June 10, 2012 by smig4373 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul99 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Its Taphrina pruni i think..Its a plant pathogen which causes Pocket gall,sometimes known as Bladder Gall..Prune out the twigs around the distorted fruit..They'll be infected to.. INFO HERE Hope this helps. :good: Looks like it to me cheers Smig . Out of curiosity I just walked along the hedge I saw this the last few years and sure enough it was back on these bushes too: When I have a few spare mins I'll get to trimming the bad bits out to see if it helps any next year.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben 990 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 My Dad bought me in a branch earlier with the same thing to look it up. Most of the Blackthorn round here seams to have it bad. Im a tree surgeon and ive noticed theres a lot of oak apples about this year, must be the weather conditions I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 My Dad bought me in a branch earlier with the same thing to look it up. Most of the Blackthorn round here seams to have it bad. Im a tree surgeon and ive noticed theres a lot of oak apples about this year, must be the weather conditions I suppose. Oak apples are caused by Gall wasp larvae...Its not a disease... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Oh Dear, this doesn't look a good sign for my Sloe Gin later this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonseed Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Oh Dear, this doesn't look a good sign for my Sloe Gin later this year! We had the same on our bullace and damsons two years ago. We clipped out the worst affected branches and the fruit was fine. No reoccurrence since and fruit last Autumn was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben 990 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Oak apples are caused by Gall wasp larvae...Its not a disease... Yea I know, just an observation thought I'd mention. Thought someone would pick up on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Yea I know, just an observation thought I'd mention. Thought someone would pick up on that. No 'pick up' intended dude.. :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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