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Pink to First Open Bloom
Disease. Brown rot (blossom blight). Blossom blight typically is not a problem unless temperatures are above 55°F, it is warm and wet, or brown rot has been a problem in the past.
Insects. Plant bugs, green peach aphid.
Plant bugs. Applying alternate row-middle sprays at reduced intervals should improve control. Plant bug feeding injury results in sunken areas on developing fruit that is not pubescent. Bugs are most persistent in orchards with alfalfa or clover sods. Since peaches are most vulnerable to catfacing injury at pink and petal fall, do not cultivate soil in orchards at those times. Cultivation only serves to destroy many alternate host plants, thus driving the insects up into the peach trees.
Oriental fruit moth mating disruption. If hand-applied mating disruption is used, dispensers should be placed at the pink stage at the recommended label rate. All dispensers should be in place before bloom. See Part III for a discussion on mating disruption. If a sprayable pheromone formulation for OFM is used, make first applications before the start of second brood flight. Repeat applications every 2 to 3 weeks or as needed. If chemical control is necessary, use degree-day egg hatch model for the best timing of available insecticides.
Pesticide Recommendations for Peaches, Pink to First Open Bloom