Cherry Tree Issue - Ask Extension
Hello! I have a beautiful cherry tree that seems to have a problem. Some (not all!) of the cherries are rotting on the trees. Others are turning re...
Knowledgebase
Cherry Tree Issue #869589
Asked May 22, 2024, 10:22 AM EDT
Hello! I have a beautiful cherry tree that seems to have a problem. Some (not all!) of the cherries are rotting on the trees. Others are turning red early. I would love any suggestions you have about this issue. Let me know if you need more photos.
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
The early reddening is not concerning, now is not too early.
The rotting, though, is a common disease for stone fruits (those with pits) in our area called brown rot.
Management in the orchard relies on good sanitation- (be sure to clean up fallen and mummified fruits and get them out of the yard) and proper timing of protectant fungicides.
You can learn more about cherries, how to care for them and their common issues here:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cherries/
and
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-45-W.pdf
Disease pressure can vary each season based on weather. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to treat the fruit now.
Christine
The rotting, though, is a common disease for stone fruits (those with pits) in our area called brown rot.
Management in the orchard relies on good sanitation- (be sure to clean up fallen and mummified fruits and get them out of the yard) and proper timing of protectant fungicides.
You can learn more about cherries, how to care for them and their common issues here:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cherries/
and
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-45-W.pdf
Disease pressure can vary each season based on weather. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to treat the fruit now.
Christine
