Apple tree leaf spots and mid-shapen apples - Ask Extension
My apple trees look good until the apples get about 1” diameter. Then some of the leaves get brown spots and some of the apples get spots and mid-s...
Knowledgebase
Apple tree leaf spots and mid-shapen apples #874053
Asked June 21, 2024, 11:13 AM EDT
My apple trees look good until the apples get about 1” diameter. Then some of the leaves get brown spots and some of the apples get spots and mid-shape. No chemicals have been sprayed. What does it need?
Talbot County Maryland
Expert Response
It is not easy to grow what most people consider good tree fruits in Maryland without close management, including carefully timed and repeated chemical spray applications for the multiple insect pests and diseases that are common in our area, such as the fungal disease apple scab, and plum circulio insect pest.
Growing small fruits like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are much more successful without a lot of work.
While in general we recommend people not use a lot of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in their landscapes, to get unblemished fruit and clear leaves you generally need to.
This page can tell you more:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fruit-plant-care/, under the "plant and pest problems" headline- press on the dropdown menu to expand.
Click on the 'Home Fruit' portion of this Virginia Pest Management Guide:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-018/456-018.html
Spray applications are preventative and start very early in the season as the buds swell and are repeated
in various ways on a schedule so it is too late for this season.
If you choose not to take the chemical spray route (most people don't want to) it is still sometimes possible to get some fruit- you will just need to cut out the bad parts- certainly enough to make a pie or two from a mature tree, and you can leave the rest for wildlife.
Christine
Growing small fruits like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are much more successful without a lot of work.
While in general we recommend people not use a lot of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in their landscapes, to get unblemished fruit and clear leaves you generally need to.
This page can tell you more:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fruit-plant-care/, under the "plant and pest problems" headline- press on the dropdown menu to expand.
Click on the 'Home Fruit' portion of this Virginia Pest Management Guide:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-018/456-018.html
Spray applications are preventative and start very early in the season as the buds swell and are repeated
in various ways on a schedule so it is too late for this season.
If you choose not to take the chemical spray route (most people don't want to) it is still sometimes possible to get some fruit- you will just need to cut out the bad parts- certainly enough to make a pie or two from a mature tree, and you can leave the rest for wildlife.
Christine
