Question
Our nectarine tree looks great, many small nectarines on the tree. Some about the size of the end of your thumb.  However, this weekend, as we moved the tree under cover for the deep freeze that is expected, we noticed that much of the fruit has turned black and swiveled up. Help please! What could be wrong. Thank you in advanced. Glenda

Answer
Hi Glenda, did some checking and this may be the problem you are having.

Brown Rot (fungus - Monilinia fructicola): The brown rot fungus causes blossom blight and fruit rot, but fruit rot is the most common. Surface moisture and moderately warm temperatures favor disease development. With blossom blight, flowers turn brown and are water-soaked. The fungus grows down the pedicel into the stem resulting in dark brown, sunken areas. Young stems are often girdled causing twig dieback. In some instances, young fruit may become infected but not show symptoms until the fruit matures. Generally, fruit are resistant to infection during the hard green stages of development. Fruit are most susceptible near maturity. The fungus enters fruit directly or through natural openings or wounds. A brown, water-soaked lesion rapidly develops. The brown rot fungus overwinters in mummies, stem cankers and on infected fruit peduncles. Beetles or other insects can be vectors for the fungus. Control by applying a fungicide during pink bud, bloom, petal fall, and at preharvest. Post harvest decay can be serious if fruit is not protected. Nectarines are more susceptible than peaches