What is This On My Apples?

SwampCat

5 year old buck +
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It starts as a small brown spot and gradually enlarges. It doesnt favor any species - it is slowly getting all of them. Was spraying every few weeks up until about six weeks ago when the rain mostly quit.
 
One of the rots. I'd guess black rot. Brown rot also a strong possibility.

What were you spraying? Any systemic fungicides?
 
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Not directly related, but I have a mature Cortland in the back yard. There was a woodpecker hanging upside down from one of the green apples, pecking for a worm I assume.
There is a great big Mac on the front lawn. This morning I had a pair of crows trying to peck into the apples at the top of the tree. They weren't having much luck, as the apples kept dropping on the lawn.
 
Probably brown rot. It can also start as just some physical damage from a bird peck or a storm as well.
 
Will spraying with a fungicide help prevent other apples from getting it?
 
Not directly related, but I have a mature Cortland in the back yard. There was a woodpecker hanging upside down from one of the green apples, pecking for a worm I assume.
There is a great big Mac on the front lawn. This morning I had a pair of crows trying to peck into the apples at the top of the tree. They weren't having much luck, as the apples kept dropping on the lawn.
Yes!!! Birds often start the process of ruining apples. We see it at camp, where crows are the most likely culprits. Then the hornets & yellow jackets move into the wounds the birds make.
 
I just pulled off about 30 honey crisp with the same thing. I had some jap beetle leaf damage, but not sure what caused mine. It's rained non-stop early summer. I kept spraying imidan and capsaicin, but it rained and washed it off as fast as I could spray it.
 
Add a spreader/sticker to your spray regimen?
 
Add a spreader/sticker to your spray regimen?

Probably should. I don't really have a spray regimen. I don't spray anything unless I absolutely have to. I can live with imperfect fruit, I prefer to be as chemical free as possible.
 
Probably should. I don't really have a spray regimen. I don't spray anything unless I absolutely have to. I can live with imperfect fruit, I prefer to be as chemical free as possible.
But you're spraying Imidan and Captan now? Adding a quality sticker/spreader/extender can decrease chemical sprays. There are even OMRI approved options
 
Yellow jackets can start holes in the fruit too. Purdue and penn state has some good articles for fruit growers explaining common insects.

Having a few green or yellow apples around helps too. Some insects look for the red.

My trees are young expect for a few old ones of unknown variety. The best looking fruit I have is franklin cider. Might be some wildlife value despite the excessive original hype about them. Thick skin is another characteristic to look for. I read enterprie has a good skin to it.

Systemic pesticides get in the tree. Imidan does do that to an extendt there are more nicotinmide based pesticides that do better.

MY main goal is deer, cider, and apple sauce. Going to give sandbur's recommendation on leaving skin on ans straining the sauce free of peels. Be alot easier with second grade apples. Ones with damage like that. Cut it out, dice it up, cook it.

I got a few acres at home and a big hunting lease. For you guys with your own properties, make a few trees by the cabin, then put some more out back. Atleast you can play with some furit without disturbing the critter way in the back. Liberty and Enterprise are must haves and earlier apples too. Galarina I believe is a bit thicker skinned too. MY freedoms look beat up. trailman, kerr, chestnut, and williams pride are good ones. Hewe's was a very huge success back in the 1700's up to prohibition in the 1930's. They used it as rootstock too. Think that one is probably a good fighter. MAybe us hmegrown apple folks don't mind it, but it grew out of favor because it's a booze apple.

I have eating apples for me of various drop times, then after that I got zone 3 trees I can get scion from for camp.
 
At my place, it seems the earlier the apple, the better the chance of success. The brown rot seems to always hit mid summer. Multiple 100 degree days and high humidity and no rain - a typical summer weather pattern. Besides fruit predators, the brown rot seems to be my worst problem.
 
Was tempted to aay that. ENterprise and granny smith got 4 monrhs of bugs, weather, and critters left to battle.

You can get an oak tree to make acorns almost as fast as few slower to fruit apples like enterprise.
 
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