If you see topographic point on your orchard apple tree , you may be tempted to think “ Oh no !   Fungal or hail injury . ” However , there may be another cause , especially if your Malus pumila trees are York Imperial , Golden Delicious , or Delicious cultivar .

It could be an easily curable physiological condition known as bob blot .

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An apple hanging from a tree with signs of cork spot.

register on to find out what symptoms to wait for and what you do to foreclose this hideous but trivial disorderliness .

What You Will Learn

What is Apple Cork Rot?

Cork spot is a disorderliness of the tree diagram ’s physiology and has nothing to do with a disease . The condition stimulate the fruit to have an unappealing outdoor appearance and a corky texture on the interior . It typically go on in fruit that are downhearted in calcium . In some cases it may also be due to an unbalance among K , Mg , and calcium .

While the yield are technically comestible , they will be hard to sell , they they may have a bitter savor . If you scarper a diminished commercial woodlet , your customers may revere that your apples are contaminated with mold .

Symptoms

The first preindication that something is amiss will be little green dimple or economic crisis on the outer portion of the fruit ’s figure . This cognitive operation typically begin in the early summer and can continue as the fruit grows and enlarges .

finally , the little spots grow and become corky and discolored . The spots may be as much one half in across .

Why does this happen , you might ask ? There are several reason why the yield may become low in calcium . The obvious one is a shortage of calcium in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . This is typically due to low pH in the soil .

Close up of an apple hanging from the branch showing signs of cork rot.

However , other ingredient can contribute to the developing of bobber rot . One is when the shoot on the tree grow too vigorously and draw the tree ’s calcium forth from the yield . Light crops can also make this effect .

How to Control Apple Cork Rot

While there is n’t much you could do for your poor yield at the bit , there are steps you could take to stop this from go on in the future .

The most long - term approach is to add limestone to the soil every 3 - 5 years after found . You should have your soil test , so you will know how frequently you call for to apply the limestone .

If you have found Tree , you’re able to consider spraying calcium four times each to cut cork fleck .

Close up of an apple hanging from the branch showing signs of cork rot.

Another footprint you’re able to take is toprune water sproutsand excessive growth in the summer . You should also look at abstaining from applying nitrogen to the soil for 1 - 2 years .

Prevention is the Best Cure

Although the tone of your yield may alarm you , fruit with cork fleck is still eatable ,   albeit potentially bitter in a less than appeal way .

And you’re able to take preventive metre . Have your soil pH tested and consider treating it with limestone .

More aggressive measures may be merited , too . you may always enforce a safari of spraying your trees with calcium chloride .

You should be able-bodied to forbid the development of this disorder in the future .

And take on formore guides on orchard apple tree disorders , start up with :

© expect the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Originally published August 27th , 2019 . Last updated August 11th , 2023 . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

About

Helga George , Ph.D.