Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Non productive apple tree

Bertie10Bertie10 Posts: 46
in Problem solving
I have an apple tree which is 7 years old The first couple of years we had blossom and a few small apples. For subsequent years, no blossom, consequently no fruit. We are within several metres of one apple tree and about 500 metres from at least one other. Any suggestions please as to what I may be doing wrong?.

Posts

  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Are you pruning it correctly for its type?
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    You dont get the same crop every year, we had 3 apple trees, variety unknown ,we inherited them, one had really small apples actually died last year. One of the other 2 had very little fruit, my Husand said he was taking it out, last year fanltastic crop.  This year we have had hardly any apples on the 2 trees, although there was penty of blossom, the June drop and then wind a few weeks ago pretty much finnished off the rest.
  • Bertie10Bertie10 Posts: 46
    Thanks for your answers both of you. I think that purplerallim could have hit on the most likely reason. I'll look for a video that shows me what to do . If that fails, I'll have to remove it.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you don't know the variety this may be helpful in determining whether your tree is a tip bearer or a spur bearer ... this will decide how you prune it. 

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=537 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Bertie10Bertie10 Posts: 46
    Thank you Dovefromabove, I have the label somewhere so I'll reprieve it this year in the hopes that I prune it properly.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I would be very inclined to not touch your tree this year. Wait until it flowers again and look at where the flowers are on the branches.  If the flowers are on the tips of the braches it is a tip bearer, if the flowers are lower down the branches it is a spur bearer, this determines the type of pruning required. Also, your tree is still a baby in fruit production terms. Fruit trees can be erratic in their behaviour until they are several years old. Young trees only need very light pruning to keep them in shape, to remove any dead, crossing or damaged branches and to reduce the height if necessary. When they begin fruiting, thinning the fruit helps to avoid them developing a bi annual fruiting routine. 
  • Bertie10Bertie10 Posts: 46
    Thank you Joyce, I will do as you suggest.
Sign In or Register to comment.