My apples have bitter pit!

Ack! I have been so excited about our new apple trees - their second year and quite heavy with fruit - but in the last week or so when I've been harvesting I see they are full of bitter pit.

There is a great image here and info on how to treat it in the Pacific Northwest Disease Handbook from Oregon State University.

Clearly for us the issue has been inconsistent watering and perhaps the early winter freeze that happened in November last year.

I'm considering planting raised beds in my orchard for lettuce and other greens crops who prefer shade in the summer - that way the overhead watering for the trees will also help irrigate the lettuce and other greens.