Controlling Diseases and Insects in Home Fruit Plantings

Bulletin 780-01

Harvest Restrictions (Days to Wait After Spraying Until Picking)

Many backyard fruit growers are concerned about eating fruits that have been sprayed with pesticides.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established set time periods between the last application of a pesticide (varies for different pesticides and crops) and harvest to avoid unnecessary residues on ripe fruit. When pesticides are used in accordance with label recommendations, fruit residues should be safe. Simply washing the fruit before consuming it removes most of any remaining residue.

There will be no problem with excessive pesticide residues on your harvested fruits if:

1. Use only registered pesticides that list on the label the particular crop to be treated.
2. The pesticide is used only at the rate recommended on the label.
3. The fruit is not picked earlier than the safe preharvest interval given on the label.
4. The fresh fruit is washed before consumption or processing, even if pesticides are not used.

Every pesticide label provides harvest restrictions. If the pesticide does not give this information, then it probably is not intended for use on fruit and should not be used. The preharvest intervals for several insecticides and fungicides commonly used on fruit crops are provided in Table 3.