Sour cherry fruit question - Ask Extension
I am wondering if you can give me insight into what is happening with the fruit on my sour cherry trees this year. There is an abundance of fruit on a...
Knowledgebase
Sour cherry fruit question #873903
Asked June 20, 2024, 10:25 AM EDT
I am wondering if you can give me insight into what is happening with the fruit on my sour cherry trees this year. There is an abundance of fruit on all of the trees, however a couple weeks ago I noticed that some of the cherries started to turn red and begin to dry up while still small. In past years I have not seen the fruit turn red until it is more plump. Is this perhaps related to the excessive amount of rainfall we have been getting? There are some brown spots on some of the fruit, which I assume is the start of brown rot. I have had brown rot on fruit in the past (I removed the damaged fruit and cleaned up under the trees) but it always appeared later in the season as the fruit was getting plump. Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Marjorie,
This looks like some kind of insect damage. I suspect spotted wing drosophila. See this page:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/uploads/files/MISWDGuideCherryJuly2019.pdf
This web site talks about what homeowners can do.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spotted-wing-drosophila
Using the homemade traps recommended in the U of M document may tell you if this fly is the culprit. If that's not the problem, please add to this question and we'll look for other possibilities.
Good luck.
