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What's wrong with my honeycrisp apples? #601083

Asked October 06, 2019, 1:58 PM EDT

I have a 4 year old Honey Crisp. This is the first year we allowed any fruit to develop. It was sprayed with orchard spray every 7-10 days since early spring. None are edible. The Zestar planted 25 ft from this one produced perfect apples. Both trees are the same age, same location, sprayed on the same schedule. What went wrong?

Stearns County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for the question.

This looks like an infestation by apple maggots.  It is the most significant insect pest of apples in Minnesota.  It is especially noticed during late summer and early fall.  The adult fly is active in July and lays eggs under the apple skin.  These eggs soon develop into maggots that begin to feast upon the growing apple.  When apples drop to the ground, these maggots become pupae and burrow into the ground where they spend the winter.  In the following summer, adults emerge from these pupae and the fun begins all over again.

Characteristic features of maggot activity within apples involve discoloration of the apple fruit (see your third picture) and bumpiness on the apple’s surface (see your second picture).  To be proactive for 2020, it is critical that you clean up all dropped apples from under your tree as soon as possible.  Do not compost these apples but discard in the trash.

You indicated that spraying was done on your tree.  As pesticides are often pest-specific, be sure that a spray is effective against the apple maggot (look on the label).  Timing is all important.  If maggots are not present in the fruit, spraying is a waste of time and money.  Continue this spraying procedure in 2020 but don’t do this unless you know maggots are present.  Be sure that the pesticide you use contains esfenvalerate, carbaryl, and spinosad.  The following will provide further information on these and other points:

http://www.moraminn.com/news/act-now-to-prevent-apple-maggot-damage/article_38450282-3fb8-11e6-83d0-0bbb5682c588.html

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/apple-maggot

https://www.morningagclips.com/july-marks-the-beginning-of-apple-maggots/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/apples/apple-maggots.htm

With respect to eating apples showing maggot infection, it is more a function of individual taste.  If you cut out the infected areas, the remaining apple could be eaten. However there are aesthetic considerations that may discourage you from doing so.  Some individuals will make apple sauce from infected apples.  Avoid using any infected apples that may have dropped to the ground as bacterial decay may have started that might cause you some intestinal discomfort.

I don't have a good explanation for why your honey crisp was infected and your Zestar was not.

Good luck in 2020 (be sure to do an extensive clean up in 2019)!!

An Ask Extension Expert Replied October 07, 2019, 10:55 AM EDT

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