Garden Q&A: What's happening to my apples?

What's happening to my apples? They blossom beautifully, apples grow well then as they reach maturity they develop brown spots on the skin.

This is a fungal infection called apple scab. By the time you notice it, there is nothing that you can do to control it. Like so many fungal problems, it thrives in our climate, particularly this year as we had such a damp and warm July and August. An apple tree, laden with foliage, stems, fruits and moisture creates the ideal conditions in which scab and other fungal pathogens can thrive.

The best way to try and prevent it in the future is good cultural control, in other words, careful pruning during the month of November, to remove as much of the infected growth as possible and to encourage a good open centre to the tree, allowing good air circulation throughout.

Collect fallen leaves over autumn and winter as the fungal spores will be present on them and will spread into the soil.

The good news is that the fruits, though perhaps unsightly, are still fine to eat.

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