Blue Plum Fruit Rot: Brown Rot Disease

A 15–20 year old blue plum sets fruit that shrivels, develops weeping spots, turns moldy, and drops. Classic brown rot (Monilinia spp.)—a common stone fruit fungus.

Management

1. Sanitation: Remove/destroy ALL fallen fruit NOW (before spring).
2. Fungicide sprays: Apply at bloom, petal fall, and shuck split per label. Check local nursery for products (e.g., captan, myclobutanil).
3. Pruning: Open canopy for airflow and spray penetration.

If Tree Too Tall to Spray

Focus on sanitation and ground-level cleanup. Consider replacing with a dwarf or resistant variety long-term.