Fruit Russeting

Golden apples develop brown netted russet patches, especially after cool, wet weather during bloom. Multiple causes include frost, viruses, spray materials, or powdery mildew. Late-maturing Golden strains like Criterion and Smoothee russet less; select these if russeting is chronic. Manage powdery mildew to reduce associated symptoms.

Grow cultivars less susceptible to russeting. The late-maturing 'Golden Delicious' strains, 'Criterion', and 'Hawaii' normally do not russet in the Willamette Valley.