Buttoning is a disorder that predominantly affects members of the Brassica family and stone fruits. It occurs when plants are put under stress from extreme cold or heat, lack of water, pest infestations, or too much competition for resources. Within the Brassica family, cauliflower and broccoli are particularly susceptible to buttoning, which manifests as the premature formation of heads on young plants. This early exposure can cause the heads to rot or become discolored. In stone fruit, buttoning can be identified by an increase in the number of small and misshapen fruits. To prevent buttoning, plants should be covered in incremental weather and planted with enough spacing to avoid competition for resources between plants.
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