Sasha CampbellBrown rot is one of those plant problems that a gardener can face. One week, your ripe or ripening fruits look plump and perfect; the next, they’re covered in firm brown spots, and then they start to rot.
It’s frustrating, especially if you have been nurturing your fruit trees all season. The good news is that there are several natural ways to control brown rot and protect your harvest.
Identification
Brown rot is a fungal disease that targets certain trees and shrubs [1]. It spreads through fungal spores carried by wind, rain, fruit-to-fruit contact, and/or insects.
When the weather is ideal for this disease, it spreads quickly. It attacks blossoms, shoots, and fruit, causing them to rot.
You’ll often notice soft brown spots that expand outward, producing a fuzzy tan mold. As the infection worsens, fruit shrivels into what gardeners call “mummies” [2].
These mummified fruits either cling to branches or drop to the ground. They become a key source of new infections in the next season.
Brown rot affects some of our favorite fruit trees.
Peaches, plums, quinces, cherries, apricots, and nectarines are often infected. This is especially true in warm or humid climates.
If you grow stone fruits, it’s crucial to stay on top of the early signs so you can act before this fungal disease takes over.
Brown rot disease may also affect tomatoes, apple trees, capsicum, citrus, and roses [3, 4].
How to Get Rid of Brown Rot Naturally
Here’s a friendly, easy-to-understand guide to help you get started. Below are home remedies and natural products that you can try.
1. Control Insects
Many gardeners don’t know that insects help spread brown rot. Anything that damages the fruit’s skin gives the fungus an easy way in.
Pests like plum curculio, Oriental fruit moth larvae, and even simple fruit-feeding insects can puncture developing fruit. Once the skin is broken, brown rot spores take advantage of the opening and infect the fruit.
A natural insect control plan goes a long way in preventing these wounds.
2. Keep Trees Healthy and Well-Fed
Fruit trees that are under stress are far more vulnerable to plant diseases.
Just like people, trees need proper nutrition and good overall care to stay strong enough to fight off infections naturally.
A healthy tree puts more energy into growing fruit. This fruit is less prone to brown rot.
Therefore, make sure your fruit trees get enough water during dry spells. Compost is another natural way to feed your trees.
3. Thin Out Fruit
Fruit that grows in tight clusters is much more likely to develop brown rot. The fruit touches and rubs against each other, spreading the infection.
Crowded clusters also trap moisture, which in turn encourages the fungus to spread.
Therefore, thin your fruit as it begins to develop. When you thin, you remove some fruit so the remaining fruit has more space and airflow.
4. Remove Any Infected Fruit from the Tree and the Ground
One of the most important things you can do to stop brown rot from returning is to clean up infected fruit as soon as you notice it. Leaving damaged fruit on the tree or scattered on the ground gives the fungus a place to overwinter.
Mummified fruits in the branches are a real problem. They release spores during the next flowering season.
So, the moment you see a piece of fruit turning soft, moldy, or brown, remove it and dispose of it far from your garden or orchard.
5. Harvest Ripe Fruits
Brown rot spreads quickly when ripe fruit sits on the tree for too long. Overripe fruit becomes soft, making it much easier for the fungus to take hold.
Therefore, harvesting fruit as it ripens is an easy, DIY way to reduce the risk of infection. Once the fruit develops its full color, it is ready to come off.
Harvesting regularly also prevents fallen fruit from collecting under the tree.
6. Prune Out Diseased Twigs and Branches
Brown rot doesn’t only infect fruit. It can also invade blossoms and shoots.
Therefore, pruning out diseased twigs and branches helps prevent this cycle from continuing.
Make your cut well below the diseased area. Also, disinfect your tools after each cut to stop the fungus from spreading.
Good pruning opens up the canopy. This lets more sunlight and airflow reach the inner branches.
7. Plant New Trees in a Location with Full Sun
Choosing the correct planting location is your first line of defense against brown rot. The fungus loves damp, shady conditions.
Therefore, if your tree is in a spot that stays wet after rain or lacks sunlight, it is at greater risk.
Most fruit trees thrive in full sun, which means at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
Sunlight helps the tree grow stronger. It also reduces moisture on the leaves and fruit.
Choose a sunny, well-ventilated location when planting new fruit trees. Space them out generously so air can circulate between the branches as they mature.
8. DIY Sprays
If brown rot keeps returning, you may want to try natural sprays to protect the fruit as it forms.
Homemade baking soda spray, compost tea, apple cider vinegar, and diluted neem oil can help create a protective barrier on the fruit’s surface.
They won’t cure infected fruit, but they can help prevent fungal outbreaks.
9. Arber Bio Protectant
For gardeners seeking a natural spray, Arber Bio Protectant is one of the best organic fungicides available.
This product helps protect your plants from many fungal and bacterial plant diseases. It is also considered safe and gentle enough to use throughout the season.
10. Arber Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Boost 3-n-1
Another natural product many gardeners like is the Arber Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Boost 3-n-1. Although it’s marketed for various crops, it works well on fruit trees, too.
This product boosts plant health and protects against certain plant diseases, such as brown rot. It gives your tree the strength to fight diseases like brown rot.
Using a product like this, along with good orchard practices, helps your trees stay strong and productive.
Takeaway
Brown rot may be persistent, but it isn’t unbeatable.
By focusing on good cultural practices and using natural prevention methods, you can protect your fruit trees. This helps you enjoy better harvests.
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