Question: The apples from my apple tree are all crusty and cracked. What caused this? How can I prevent it from happening again next year?

Answer: Your apples probably have a disease called apple scab, which is one of the most common diseases of apple and crabapple in the United States. is caused by the fungus, Venturia inaequalis. Although you noticed the disease on the fruit, this disease caused spots on leaves earlier in the season.

Management of apple scab involves a combination of steps: planting resistant varieties, raking and destroying fallen leaves infected with the scab fungus, pruning apple trees in late winter to "open" the canopy, and using fungicide sprays for susceptible apple and crabapple cultivars.

For more information about this disease refer to the Down the Garden Path newsletter (Number 80, June 14, 1995 (80K) in PDF format). (Adobe Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files).

Information listed is valid only for the state of Indiana.

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