Q: What can I spray to get rid of worms in peaches and wild plums? Last summer the trees were full of fruit, but it was inedible. I understand that a mixture with molasses might work, but I do not know the formula. — P.W., Houston

A: If the pest is plum curculio, you'll see whitish to yellow-white, legless grubs with brown heads in the fruit. This small weevil eats a hole in developing fruit and deposits eggs inside. Once the worms hatch, they feed, and often the fruit ripens and drops early.

Another possible pest is the Oriental fruit moth. The larvae are pinkish, 1/2 -inch worms with legs. Symptoms include damaged growing tips.

Treatment timing for either pest is most important. You don't want to spray and kill insects that pollinate the blooms. So it's generally recommended applications be made when the petals fall.

Some build scaffolds over trees, then cover the structures with row cover right after blossoms fall.

To discourage future outbreaks, remove infested fruit. Plant varieties that produce before the pest emerges. 'Tropic Beauty,' for example, is a 150-chill-hour peach that produces before the curculio is active.

Ask your nurseryman or your extension office for an appropriate insecticide. The molasses treatment you mention could be one mixed with Garrett Juice and garlic tea. You can buy Garrett Juice or follow the recipe below.

Mix the following in a gallon of water:

1 cup manure-based compost tea

1 ounce molasses

1 ounce natural apple cider vinegar

1 ounce liquid seaweed

For disease and insect control add:

1/4 cup garlic tea or

1/4 cup garlic/pepper tea

or 1 ounce of orange oil

To make garlic tea:

Liquefy 3 bulbs of garlic in a blender 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Strain the solids and add enough water to the garlic juice to make 1 gallon of concentrate. Use 1/4 cup of concentrate per gallon of spray. Add two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses for more control.