apple problem

[umgum]

hi i`m new here so be gentle

i have had an apple tree for about 5 years bought from wilkinsons
every year a lot of the apples look like this



what is it and how do i stop it

[FB.]

Maybe scab, maybe codling maggot, maybe capsid bug, maybe branch rubbing on the fruit.
Too difficult to tell from that image, but scab seems most likely.

Do you know which variety of apple you bought - and the rootstock?
Also, your location would be tremendously helpful, since different parts of the country suffer from different problems (we also have people post on here from overseas)

The picture is a bit dull/shady. Is it possible to pick the apple to allow you to get a nice, bright, well-focuses picture of the damaged part?

[umgum]

nw uk warrington

not sure what apple it is think it is cox

that was last years apple this is this years

[FB.]

The damage looks like codling moth (maggots), or some other insect nibbling.
However, the damaged areas are surprisingly large for codling, so it is possible that the fungal disease "scab" caused a split, which then alowed insects to enter the split.
I note quite a bit of scab on the leaves and you're in a reasonably wet part of the UK.

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Young trees with only a light crop often have all the apples destroyed by pests or diseases. When the tree gets larger, there is enough fruit for the pests to take their share and still leave something for you.

If the tree is producing dozens of apples and all are being damaged by insects/maggots, I'd either grow a more insect-resistant/disease resistant variety, or try codling moth "pheromone" traps.

I accept that some of the apples that I grow will suffer heavy losses to pests, but certain others will be untouched as a result of the "sacrificial" apple trees drawing the pests away.

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Predisposing factors for codling maggot attack include:

Fruits on the South side of the tree.

Larger fruits.

Touching fruits (the point where two fruits touch is a very likely place for a maggot to burrow inside and destroy both fruits).

Most coloured fruits.

Early-ripening apples.

Thin-skinned apples.

Tasty "eat-off-the-tree" summer-ripening eating apples.

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Things which seem to reduce codling attack:

Smaller apples.
Apples growing singly.
Apples on the shadier (North) side of the tree.
Less colourful apples (e.g. green or russeted skin)
Late-ripening apples.
Cooking or sharp-tasting apples.
Thick-skinned apples.

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If the problem is scab, the cause is too much wetness. Quite possible in the NorthWest.
Some varieties (including most of the "favourites") are quite prone to it. Some varieties are highly resistant (most have names that people won't be familiar with).

It is possible to spray for scab (requires several or more sprays per year) - with attention early in the season being especially important. I'm not a fan of spraying.

My defence against scab is to grow resistant varieties.

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[umgum]

ok thanks i will have to see what happens as it gets more mature
it was a present for my daughter on her first birthday off her great nana
so don`t really want to get rid of it

[FB.]

OK, if the tree has to stay.......

If the problem is codling moth or some other pest, then either try codling pheromone traps, or plant another small apple tree nearby that will be more attractive to the pests than the one you already have.
Even codling-damaged or other pest-damaged apples can have the good/bad bits cut out to make them suitable to eat. You can normally salvage at least half the flesh of a damaged apple.

If the problem is scab, spraying will be required if you want to prevent it.

[FB.]

Here are some pictures of a pest-damaged "Discovery" apple that I picked a few minutes ago specially for educational purposes. I then carefully dissected it to salvage the good flesh and then shared it with the Mrs.
Very tasty it was, too.

Pic 1 shows the apple - about two inches wide.
On the right, the dark blemish is a codling maggot hole.
In the middle and on the left are wasp nibbles.

Pic 2.
I went to the undamaged side and cut off a slice, trying hard to avoid the core, which would be full of maggots or excrement. I suggest the cut about halfway from the middle of the apple.
Notice that the slice I cut off has no pest damage.

Pic 3.
I then cut parallel with the maggot hole, keeping about 1cm away from its likely tunnel to the core and avoiding cutting into the core. Again, another clean slice of apple is salvaged.

Pic 4.
I scooped out the two wasp nibblings. The flesh underneath is healthy.

Pic 5.
I then cut the other parralel side of the maggot hole, again trying to not cut into the maggot tunnel to the core, nor to cut into the maggot-infested core.
Yet again, another clean slice of apple is salvaged.

Pic 6.
Being greedy (and a bit cocky!), I then salvaged the bottom piece of the apple below the maggot hole - again avoiding the core and staying away from the maggots direct tunnel to the core.

Pic 7.
I then deliberately made a cut too close to the maggot tunnel, and you can see the black speck of rotten, soiled apple close to the core and the maggot tunnel.

[FB.]

Pics 1-4:

Here are the pics:

[FB.]

Pics 5-7