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| Bitter pit |
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Bitter pit is quite a common disorder on apples sometimes caused by a calcium deficiency in acidic soil.
Other causes can be excessive use of nitrogen, potassium and magnesium fertilisers.
The symptoms appear as shallow sunken pits on the skin of the fruit, under which brown areas develop into the flesh, the fruit becomes quite bitter, hence the name 'bitter pit '
As mentioned above; a common cause is calcium deficiency sometimes induced by irregular watering, rather than the lack of calcium in the soil.
As prevention is often better than cure good plant husbandry such as regular watering, feeding and mulching can save plant stress.
Foliar sprays of calcium nitrate fertilizer mixed to the manufacturer's specification should be applied at ten day intervals between Week 24 and 37
Note; never spray above 20°C (68°F).
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