Brown Rot
Disease · Commonly affects: Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines
Brown rot is a fungal fruit disease of apples, pears, plums and other tree fruits. It spreads most readily in warm, wet weather and through damaged skins, often turning a nearly ripe crop rotten within days. Gardeners should act promptly because infected fruit left on the tree becomes a source of spores for the following season.
How to identify it
The first sign is usually a soft brown patch around a bruise, insect hole or cracked skin. It expands quickly and develops concentric rings of pale buff or greyish pustules, each often 1-3 mm wide. Fruit shrivels into hard, dark mummies that may remain attached to branches through winter. On plums, infection can spread rapidly after rain. Check both fruit on the tree and windfalls beneath it, as both may carry spores.
Damage
Brown rot makes fruit inedible and can destroy a large proportion of a crop shortly before harvest. Rot spreads between touching fruits and can enter through wounds caused by birds, pests, hail or careless picking. Mummified fruit and infected spurs retain the disease over winter, so the next season may begin with an early and repeated infection risk.
Prevention
Prune fruit trees to an open shape so rain dries quickly from foliage and fruit. Thin crowded clusters, support laden branches and pick carefully to avoid skin damage. Remove windfalls promptly and protect ripening crops from bird damage with suitable netting, kept clear of the fruit. Maintain good tree health with watering in drought and sensible feeding. Clean picking containers between crops, and choose varieties suited to your garden that are less prone to fruit splitting.
How to manage it
As soon as brown rot appears, pick off affected fruit, including mummies on the tree and ground, and bin it rather than composting it at home. Cut out dead fruiting spurs when pruning, using clean tools. Harvest ripe fruit regularly and do not store bruised specimens with sound ones. During winter, inspect the whole canopy for overlooked mummies. Reduce causes of wounding, such as overcrowded branches or pest damage, before the next fruiting season.
Brown Rot: frequently asked questions
How do I identify brown rot?
The first sign is usually a soft brown patch around a bruise, insect hole or cracked skin.
How do I prevent brown rot?
Prune fruit trees to an open shape so rain dries quickly from foliage and fruit.
How do I get rid of brown rot?
As soon as brown rot appears, pick off affected fruit, including mummies on the tree and ground, and bin it rather than composting it at home.
General guidance for UK home gardens and allotments, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed diagnosis, the RHS or a local garden centre can help. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.