Can I eat fruit with brown rot?

No, you should discard any fruit showing signs of rot. It will taste bad and can spread the fungus to healthy fruit.

Will these spots kill my tree?

Usually not, but they can significantly reduce your fruit yield. Consistent sanitation is the best way to keep your tree healthy.

Apricot: spots, causes and fixes

Check these first

Inspect the fruit for fuzzy gray mold.
Look for small holes in the foliage.
Check if the twigs are wilting near the spots.

Likely causes

Brown Rot
Most likely
How to tell: You will see fuzzy, tan or gray fungal tufts on fruit and blossoms. Infected twigs may also wilt and die back.
What to do: Prune out all infected twigs and fruit immediately. Dispose of the clippings in the trash, not your compost pile, to stop the spread.
Shot Hole Disease
Possible
How to tell: Small, reddish spots appear on leaves that eventually drop out, leaving behind tiny holes. This often happens after a wet spring.
What to do: Remove fallen leaves from around the base of the tree to reduce fungal spores. Apply a copper fungicide in late autumn before the leaves drop.

Leaf spots on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your apricot

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

If the spots cover most of the leaves or you see fruit rotting on the branch, you need to act fast to save the harvest. A few isolated spots are common in humid weather.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the area under your tree clean of debris and ensure good airflow by pruning the canopy annually.

Apricot: spots? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your apricot and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I eat fruit with brown rot?: No, you should discard any fruit showing signs of rot. It will taste bad and can spread the fungus to healthy fruit.
Will these spots kill my tree?: Usually not, but they can significantly reduce your fruit yield. Consistent sanitation is the best way to keep your tree healthy.

Guides to these causes

Shot Hole Disease

Why are there spots on my apricot tree leaves?