Peach Leaf Curl: Red Blistered, Twisted Leaves … A Common and Very Treatable Disease

by Jim FarrEvery spring and summer, the Alameda County Master Gardener help desk receives many calls about Peach and Nectarine trees that have developed highly curled, reddened leaves that cause great concern. The disease that causes this problem with Peach and Nectarine trees is called Peach Leaf Curl, a fungal disease that affects the leaves and shoots of Peaches and Nectarines. The problem is very widespread. Most people who have grown Peaches or Nectarines in their backyard in Alameda County probably have seen this problem at some point in time.See UC Integrated Pest Management page for photos and further descriptions of the disease.Signs of Peach Leaf Curl Symptoms normally appear about two weeks after leaves emerge in the spring. The first signs are red spots on the leaves, which soon become thick and puckered. The leaves eventually turn yellow and drop off. Healthy new leaves do emerge to replace the fallen ones unless subsequent spring showers cause the disease to spread to the...