Common crops affected
What is it?
Brown spot generally refers to pathogen-caused spotting (fungal or bacterial, depending on crop) that produces brown lesions on leaves and fruit, favored by warm, wet conditions. Cork spot, by contrast, is a physiological disorder linked to calcium imbalance in the fruit (common in pears and apples), producing hard, corky, sunken areas in the flesh — not caused by an organism.
How to identify it
- Brown spot: brown lesions on leaves and fruit, often spreading in warm, wet weather
- Cork spot: hard, corky, brown, sunken areas in the fruit flesh, often without surface rot
- Cork spot tends to follow calcium imbalance and uneven growing conditions
- Brown spot tends to follow wet weather and shows on foliage as well as fruit
Damage and how it spreads
Both downgrade fruit, but for different reasons: brown-spot pathogens spread and recur in wet conditions, while cork spot reflects how calcium is moving (or not) into the fruit. Treating cork spot like a disease — or brown spot like a nutrient problem — wastes effort, so correct diagnosis is the first priority.
How to control it
- Confirm which problem you have — pathogen (brown spot) vs calcium disorder (cork spot).
- For brown spot: improve airflow, avoid leaf wetness, sanitize debris, and protect in wet weather.
- For cork spot: stabilize watering and correct calcium availability through the season.
- Keep overall plant health and nutrition balanced.
Recommended Vegalab solution: Spore Control
For pathogen-driven brown spot, Vegalab Spore Control (Thymol) provides broad-spectrum protective action — apply at first sign and during wet weather. For cork spot, which is a calcium-availability disorder, the answer is nutritional: Calcium Boost makes calcium readily available to the fruit. Diagnose first, then match the product to the actual cause.
| Role | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary control | Spore Control | Broad-spectrum protective fungicide |
| Companion / broader pressure | Calcium Boost | Soluble calcium correction |
Preventing it next season
Keep watering even and calcium available through the fruiting period to prevent cork spot; manage airflow, sanitation, and wet-weather protection to prevent brown spot. Calcium Boost supports steady calcium nutrition.
Claims and product availability vary by jurisdiction. Always read and follow the product label.