Gardening & Landscaping
BG09
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Apple Tree Question
I have an apple tree in my backyard that produces tons of apples. I thought have heard before that apple trees need to be "treated" (not sure if that is the correct word) for worms, etc so the apples are safe to eat... is this true? TIA
Re: Apple Tree Question
If codling moth larvae (the biggest "worm" problem we have around here) have gotten to my apples, I know about it. There are holes in the apples. Quite honestly, if I spot one with a hole in it, I'll still bring it in and cut off the part with the "worm" in it. Many times they won't have made it to the center, so the apple is still almost entirely good. I'm not sure that eating one of the worms would be dangerous. Probably just gross. I do not store apples that have any blemish because they will rot (an unblemished apple can store for months).
I don't treat with pesticide, but I do spray on a kaolin clay barrier ("Surround") to try to save more of my apples from being infested. I'd say that maybe 15-20% of my apples have them each year? Less when I use the barrier.
I also hang a gallon jug of a syrup/vinegar trap in my tree each year to kill adult moths and use Tanglefoot traps around the trunk (having heard that can catch them at one point in the lifecycle when they are climbing up or down the tree).
Part of my reason for growing my own food is to avoid the pesticides in the grocery store (and I believe apples are some of the "dirtiest" fruits). I'd rather eat the worm.
Ah, you must be young.
I am old. When I was little, this was a common joke/riddle:
Q: What's worse than finding an apple with a worm in it?
A: Finding half a worm.
When I was growing up, before pesticides were in such heavy use, it was common to find worms and/or bugs in or on your fruit and produce. As pp said, cut out the part with the worm and the rest will be fine to eat.