THE wet spring and mild start to summer has been a boon for home gardeners, but they are being urged not to forget about fruit fly in the busy weeks ahead.
Fruit Fly Murray Valley (FFMV) regional co-ordinator Narelle Beattie said fruit was ripening a little later than usual, but the time for action was now.
“Summer is here, so if you haven’t already got insect nets in place on summer ripening fruit, it’s really critical that they’re on now,” Ms Beattie said.
“With the festive season starting it’s easy to get distracted from the tasks in the garden, but if you leave it until after Christmas it will be too late.
“Trees to pay close attention now are stone fruit varieties like apricots, nectarines and peaches, as well as cherries, grapes, avocados, figs and olives. There are also vegetable varieties that can host fruit fly, including tomatoes, chillies, capsicums and eggplants.”
Ms Beattie said as well as getting nets on, fruit fly traps need checking, recharging and replacing if necessary.
“If you’re heading away from home over the festive season, it’s important that the preparation is done, otherwise fruit fly will have their own little celebration while you’re away,” she said.
“As well as doing your nets and traps, make sure any infested fruit is bagged and disposed of properly. If you have uncovered trees, arrange for a friend, family member or neighbour to drop in and pick up any infested fruit.
“You don’t want to come home to a mess of infested fruit – and you’ll also be doing your bit to protect the produce of other growers around your local area.”
Ms Beattie said it was pleasing to see an increasing number of home gardeners succeeding in growing fresh produce over the summer months.
“If you love the satisfaction of producing clean healthy food and you’re proactive and happy to put in the hard work that’s needed, it’s fantastic to see some real success stories in our communities,” she said.
“There’s nothing like tucking into your own home-grown fruit during the festive season and summer months – but it’s a year-round sustained effort that brings that satisfaction.”
Information on the best tools and strategies is available at www.fruitflymv.com.au
