Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi all,
Having harvested my Bramley apples in late September, duly wrapped them up and stored them, I've just come to cook some, and found every single one of them with little brown marks all through them - there's nothing left to eat - they go right through the whole apple! Also, one of them had a little pale coloured caterpillar type thing (wriggling, so definitely alive) on it, between the wrapping and the apple itself. Not sure whether this is linked to the brown marks or not. I've had a look at various websites, and I'm wondering whether it's 'bitter pit' which would be caused by a) not enough water (could be true with this summer of course) and / or b) lack of calcium. Has anybody any ideas please?
I'll just have a go at uploading a couple of photos - oh dear it won't let me - says the file's too big - sorry

Hello A the S
Without a photo I would say that your problem is 'bitter pit' which can be a real problem in Bramleys and gets worse the longer you store them. The fruit with a caterpillar could just be a distraction - codling moths start their business in the core and then tunnel out.
I have a large Bramley and every couple of years I lime the ground underneath it as I had this problem many years ago. Dolomitic lime is particularly good if you can get it.
Some books suggest spraying the tree when in leaf with a solution of calcium nitrate but this is not really practical for amateurs with large trees.

John

PS September seems rather early to be picking Bramleys especially this year when apples were cropping several weeks later than usual. This could be why your problem is so bad.

Thanks Alan and John - I also think it must be bitter pit, which doesn't come up as a disease when you google it as of course it's caused by a lack of calcium, possibly also a lack of water (unsurprisingly as this year's been so dry). So, I guess my soil (this tree is grown in the garden at home, not at the allotment) is short of calcium, and I should be liming it as you've recommended John.
It's so disappointing isn't it, when you wait for months for all these lovely, huge apples to be ready, only to have to chuck them away
Ah well, we live and learn don't we.
Thanks again guys

Oh, and looking back in my log, I must have picked them at the very end of September, so possibly still a little early. I'll try and be more patient next year!

Our quince had bitter pit this year.