If I remember rightly , Tootles you are not far from me. My big James Grieve was flowering but not fruiting, after it's presumed pollinator in the old orchard next door fell over. I bought a few dwarf apple trees from Aldi at about a fiver each. They are planted 20 to 30 feet away in a herbaceous border. There is a Cox, a Lord Lambourne and a Discovery amongst them. I also have a largish Early Worcester that I inherited when I bought the house. The James Grieve is back to full production. The early Worcester always produces with minimum maintenance , even though it has a funny lean as it is trying to get out of the shadow of an Oak. The Cox now fruits each year as well. If you don't want to add another tree, and are feeling really adventurous, maybe grafting bud wood from another pollinator onto your cox might help. I regard the apples off the little trees as a bonus. The real crop is my big James Grieve.
Searching the Internet for information as to why my cox's apple tree either doesn't fruit at all or has a few apples of which half will drop off before they are ready, and came across this forum, which describes my situation, apart from the tree was sold to me as "self fertile" The tree is about 4 yrs old its an Cox'x O Pippin. Bought this as I live in London and the garden is not that big. The tree is trained as an espalier and produces lots of water shoots every year which i prune off. Are these reasons why it doesn't fruit. I too am thinking of removing it and replacing with another fruit tree. Help much appreciated.
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The tree is about 4 yrs old its an Cox'x O Pippin. Bought this as I live in London and the garden is not that big. The tree is trained as an espalier and produces lots of water shoots every year which i prune off. Are these reasons why it doesn't fruit. I too am thinking of removing it and replacing with another fruit tree. Help much appreciated.