Spraying Apple Trees

 Written by: Muzamil Shah Watandost

Most Afghan gardeners grow apple trees and they get good yields from their gardens. It’s important to protect apple trees from pests and diseases; otherwise, they would not get a good result. Spraying apple trees is the only way to protect apple trees from pests and diseases.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some gardeners and an agricultural employee about spraying apple trees.

Niazuddin, a gardener of Paghman district, Kabul province says, “I have about 116 apple trees. I did not spray them last year, I got about 5600 kilograms of apple instead of 11200 kilograms. Most apples did not grow well; they spoiled and had bad quality.”

Amir Rabi, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “One year I had not sprayed my apple trees, all apples spoiled; the remained were small and the customer did want to buy them.”

 Mir Mohammad Qureshi, an agricultural employee in Logar province, says: "Apples need sun, water, fertilizer, and regular spraying to produce more fruits without pests." If gardeners do not spray apple trees, they might face various problems. Trees produce poor quality fruits and their quantity reduces. Worms eat the inside of the apple and raw apples may fall from the tree. Pests may eat the leaves of trees, and the worms make holes in the leaves, and then the leaves cannot prepare food for the fruits. This causes a fungal disease that black spots appear on the apple and we cannot store such apples and would be spoiled soon.” 

What do some gardeners think about the causes of this issue?

Niazuddin says, “We were not aware of the season of spraying apple trees, we sprayed them and the spray had no effect.”

Noorgul, a resident of Shakardara district says, “Last year I sprayed my apple garden but it did not affect the disease and I don’t know whether the spray was expired or it was of low quality.”

Mir Muhammad Quraishi says, “Some bacteria, viruses, and environmental factors could cause apple trees aphids.

Pests, worms, and funguses are bacterial and viral aphids and not considering space between apple trees; pruning and unsuitable soil for apple garden are environmental aphids that could cause diseases in apple trees.”

What is the best time for spraying apple trees?

Niazuddin says, “We spray apple trees two times in a year; once during blossom and the second time after harvest season to prevent barking the trunk and I get a good harvest.”

Amir Rabi says, “Spraying has a special season. I always spray Sulphur on my apple trees in the last month of the year. This spray illuminates the diseases hid under the trunks of the trees.”

Mir Sayed Muhammad Quraishi says, “Gardeners should spray apple trees two times a year. Once at the blossom time,  and then after harvest season.”