I have a golden and red delicious apple trees .One of them have brown spots. What are they?

Question

Also what is the best way to prune these and shouldnt it be done in the fall when sap is down?Thanks Sherry

Answer 1

The brown spots are probably some sort of fungal disease like cedar/apple rust on the apples....a VERY common occurance if you don't spray them throughout the season.  There are orchard sprays that you actually start spraying before the first buds even pop in the spring, and then occasionally during the summer....This is the only way to prevent it.  Some don't do a whole lot of harm, others will ruin the fruit and make them look bad....Spray next year, or even this fall.  And yes, prune in the fall after harvest, or early in the spring before the buds pop.

Answer 2

Are you sure it's a golden delicious? There is an old time apple that we used to call a rusty coat when I was a kid. It was a dull green with brownish rust colored spots all over it. Absolutely the best apple I ever ate. We had them, on a farm in Tennessee. I found some in Ohio in the 70's and in western Arkansas in the late 80's. My dad once told me it was the apple the golden delicious was developed from. If so I personally think someone messed up as I never tasted a golden delicious that was anywhere near as good.