apple tree mystery

by Dandelion 2nd May 2010, 3:40 pm

We have four apple trees in our garden, all on dwarf rootstocks (I'm a bit vague about whether they're M27 or M9 - a mixture I think.) One tree, a heritage variety, fruited for the first time last year, but has no flowers at all this year. This is the same for a spartan, which has fruited since it was first planted - not one flower bud. However, the other two trees are covered in blossom. They're in different parts of the garden, one is in a very large pot, and the other is in the ground, and look as if they will have a healthy crop. Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

by Chilli-head 2nd May 2010, 9:05 pm

Many apple trees have a tendency to biennial fruiting; alternate years of a heavy crop, and next to nothing. Some say that thinning the fruit well in the bumper years can help even things out. I've never managed to get out of the boom and bust cycle though. This year is looking like a good one, if all the blossom sets.

by Dandelion 2nd May 2010, 10:47 pm

I could believe that the heritage variety could be bienniel, as it has been so darned awkward since we planted it (it didn't flower for six years, and when it finally had fruit it obviously wasn't the variety which it was supposed to be! My cunning plan was to take some fruit to an Apple day this autumn to get it identified, but this will have to wait for another year). What has puzzled me is that the Spartan has been consistently good every year until now. It's not just sparce - it's completely flowerless like its awkward neighbour.

by Sparhawk 2nd May 2010, 11:01 pm

Could it just be a little late this year, some estimates are putting nature up to a month late although most say a fortnightish...

Or perhaps depleted the nutrients out of the soil & is in need of a feed...

Hessayon says: Spartan responds well to feeding & suggests 2oz Growmore per sq. yard around the soil under the branches, Then a little later putting a mulch of compost or rotted manure around the base of the trunk but keep away from the bark...

(Extracted from The Fruit Expert...)

by Dandelion 3rd May 2010, 3:54 pm

Thanks Spar - I've given it a dressing of what my daughters charmingly call 'Blood Cr*p and guts' this March - maybe it is just late, or maybe it's just being 'different'!! (I've gardened for years and years, but still forget that I'm not in charge, and that things sometimes don't do what it says on the tin!!)

by Compostwoman 3rd May 2010, 10:29 pm

Well, ALL the trees around here, and ours are in full blossom fwiw....

and that is a lot of different varieties...from early to late fruiting
';?

by Guest 4th May 2010, 1:29 pm

We have 19 apple tees of various ages and types. Three of our new ones, just over a year in the ground, are completely barren too. We didn't let them fruit last year so the biannual thing won't be the reason. I haven't mulched them this year and they are in line with others that have blossomed...so its a question we were wondering too.

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