I thought wormy apples were just an inevitability, but it seems they are probably caused by codling moth (in our case any way). We may not be able to get rid of them but by picking up all fallen apples and leaf litter, as well as trying nematodes beneath the trees and on the trunk and branches, we may be able to reduce and keep it under control. It also throws doubt on my assumption that the tree is Beauty of Bath. The early ripening/dropping is likely caused by this pest. I’m going to keep an eye on the healthy apples on the tree and see when they’re ready to pick. You learn something new every day/month/season in the garden!
Even wormy windfalls apples can be put to good use and I made a delicious toffee apple steamed pudding with toffee sauce this weekend. Perfect for the cool damp weather we’ve been having.
Happy tree following and thanks for reading. Hard to believe next tree following will mark the start of autumn here in the UK. Where is the year going?!
That is a beautiful red and green apple!
It’s a shame that the fruit has been affected like that and I hope that you do get some good ones. Good to see that you managed to use the windfalls. xx