Why do apples crack right on the tree and what to do about it?

It's quite common for fully ripe apples to develop cracked skin. This common problem negatively impacts the appearance, flavor, and shelf life of the fruit. Apple cracking is caused by a number of factors, which every gardener should be aware of in order to prevent or eliminate them.

Reasons

After apples crack, black spots first appear in these areas, followed by rotting. Fruits that continue to grow while cracked lose their symmetry, becoming lopsided. They then fall off before fully ripening. Physiologically, peel rupture causes the skin to lose elasticity, simultaneously halting cell growth while the flesh continues to grow. Due to its inability to stretch, the peel ruptures.

Sharp fluctuations in soil moisture

In the spring, after the snow melts, the crop receives sufficient moisture, enough to last for a long time. However, as temperatures rise and water is consumed during the growing season, this moisture evaporates. Therefore, apple trees require high-quality and uniform watering throughout the season.

If this rule isn't followed, the soil initially dries out significantly, and the fruit's growth stops. After the next watering, growth continues more rapidly, with the pulp growing faster than the skin. As a result, the skin can't withstand it, and cracks form. In this case, the quality of the harvest can only be preserved by maintaining the required soil moisture level. Rare, but voluminous watering will contribute to the appearance of gaps.

Unbalanced diet

Like all fruit crops, apple trees react sharply to nutrient deficiencies caused by insufficient fertilization. Therefore, timely comprehensive fertilization is recommended; otherwise, the deficiency of certain elements will negatively impact the health of the fruit:

• boron deficiency causes the fruit skin to lose elasticity and cracks to appear;
• High acidity levels prevent apple trees from absorbing potassium and contribute to fruit spoilage.

Fungal diseases

Cracking and rotting of apples is caused by a disease that has affected them fungusFungal diseases primarily affect the condition of fruit skin. The most common disease damaging fruit skin is scab. Its spores overwinter under the snow in last year's fallen leaves, and with the arrival of spring, they become active and begin to multiply rapidly. Within a relatively short period of time, they affect the flowers and fruit ovaries. Several factors contribute to the development of fungal diseases:

• too dense plantings;
• humid and warm weather conditions;
• excess moisture in the soil caused by heavy rainfall and improper watering;
• the presence of cracks on the tree trunk - a favorable place for the reproduction of spores;
• contamination in the tree trunk circle.

As a rule, about damage to fruit crops scab Signs of the disease include curled leaves and premature leaf fall. At the same time, brown spots and dots appear on the fruit. In areas affected by the fungus, the peel stops growing and loses its elasticity, resulting in a hardened skin. Meanwhile, healthy parts of the fruit continue to expand, distorting its shape. Cracks subsequently develop in the apple, allowing other harmful microorganisms to penetrate, causing fruit rot. This significantly increases the vulnerability of the trees themselves.

In addition to the bark, the tree trunk begins to crack, caused by sudden temperature changes. This is especially noticeable in the first days of spring, when nighttime temperatures drop below 0°C and the sun warms the air during the day.

Usually in areas affected by spores scabies, thickening is observed, which subsequently cracks. To prevent the spread of fungus, it is necessary to prune fruit trees promptly and treat them with special preparations. It is also unacceptable to leave debris from the previous season, such as fallen leaves, fruits, and branches, in the tree's trunk circle.

How to get a good harvest: what to do

Once the cause of cracks in the fruit has been identified, it's essential to begin eliminating them and treating the apple tree immediately. To do this, follow these recommendations:

• periodically clean the soil in the tree trunk circle: remove fallen fruits, weeds and leaves;
• prune branches in a timely manner to form the crown and rejuvenate the apple tree: remove diseased, damaged and old shoots;
• periodically dig up the trunk area with subsequent treatment with antiseptic agents and mulching, which will help maintain the required level of moisture in the soil;
• regularly apply additional fertilizers using complex and mineral compounds, and also monitor the acidity level;
• in dry weather, water abundantly;
• in order to combat various diseases and pests, treat the apple orchard with insecticides and fungicides;
• provide trees with protection from excessive exposure to sunlight, which can cause burns, and from temperature changes, especially in early spring;
• regulate the number of ovaries, avoiding excessive load.

With proper care and adherence to all agricultural recommendations, you can annually obtain a high-quality harvest that can be stored for a long time.