Sooty Blotch on Apples: Cosmetic Only, Perfectly Edible

Those dark, smudgy patches on your homegrown apples are sooty blotch—a common fungal disease that affects only the fruit's skin, not its flesh or flavor.

No Treatment Needed for Home Gardeners

Commercial growers spray fungicides to meet market standards, but for personal use, the apples are perfectly safe to eat. Simply wash or peel before consuming.

Prevention for Future Years

If you want cleaner fruit, apply preventive fungicides (like chlorothalonil) starting in early summer during wet periods. But honestly? Most home gardeners learn to accept the "rustic" look and enjoy the harvest anyway.