The situation when brown spots appear on still unpicked apples, and later the fruits completely rot and remain hanging on the branches, is familiar to many gardeners. Often the problem starts with one or two fruits, but without proper care it quickly spreads to the whole tree.
Why apples start to rot
Most often the cause is fruit rot (brown rot / moniliosis). Its development is promoted by warm humid weather, a thickened crown and damage on the fruits. Through cracks, insect punctures or hail the fungus easily penetrates inside the apple and starts developing rapidly.
No less dangerous are pests. The codling moth and other insects leave tunnels in the flesh, opening the way for infection.
What needs to be done
- Regularly remove all rotting apples. Do not leave them either on the tree or under it. Exactly they become the source of re-infection.
- If the crown is very dense, carefully thin it. When air circulates better between the branches, leaves and fruits dry faster after rain, and the risk of fungal diseases significantly decreases.
- Collect fallen fruit every day. Do not pile it up near the garden or leave it under the trees.
- Regularly examine the fruits. If you notice the first signs of pest damage, use permitted plant protection products according to the instructions and taking into account the waiting periods before harvest.
What the tree can be treated with
If the disease is only beginning, timely treatment with a fungicide permitted for fruit crops helps. Carry it out only according to the manufacturer’s instructions and do not violate the periods before fruit collection.
For prevention of the next season, early in spring and after flowering it is important to perform planned protective treatments and not forget about sanitary pruning.
How to prevent the problem next year
- Do not allow thickening of the trees.
- Timely prune dry and diseased branches.
- Remove mummified fruits in autumn.
- Maintain cleanliness of the trunk circle.
- Regularly examine the apple trees to detect the problem still at the initial stage.
Proper care does not guarantee that diseases will not appear at all, but significantly reduces the risk of harvest loss. If you act immediately after the appearance of the first affected fruits, the apple tree has a much greater chance of preserving healthy and tasty apples until the very harvest.