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Apples- what are these strange tips and am i pruning right??

bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
in Fruit & veg
These are howgate wonders - I'm planning to check if they are ready yet at the weekend with husband and ladder as most of them are inaccessible. What are the funny patches on them? And am I pruning the tree right? It's mostly fruited right at the top Is that  just where the bees fancied this year?? 
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  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
    Thanks, I'll look those up. Never thought of frost as it's a late b loomer, but we did ave a rubbish spring

  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072
    Where you trying to grow your apple as a cordon or fan with the branches trained to grow lateral? If so you should of pruned the growing stem a lot lower.
    the strongest growth is now at the top so that’s where you will get the fruit.
  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
    Chrissy do you mean I should have tsken the top off? I was wandering that. Only got to the top tier this winter and never got round to it, anything I can do to help?
  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072
    Yes if you are training it as a fan ago espalier,
    you might be able to rectify it when it’s dormant in the winter, in the meantime look up growing and pruning fruit trees as espaliers.
  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072
    Chrissy the gardener said:
    Yes if you are training it as a fan or espalier,
    you might be able to rectify it when it’s dormant in the winter, in the meantime look up growing and pruning fruit trees as espaliers.

  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
    Thanks, I'll do some research, I think I just failed to chop the top off last year as i didn't organise my husband and a ladder in time, I'll make sure we do it this winter. The pear tree will need similar attention - but cropped fine and low down, though it's a U cordon. Bizarrely it seems to be flowering at the top now... 
  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
    It's bitter pit, but on htis specimen at least doesn't go in very far. Most of them are affected - ****heatwave I guesss - will they be ok to eat if I cut those bits off? They're cookers anyway so will be cooking and tasting before eating. @pansyface n at least
  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
    I've harvested them all as some apples were very ripe, the wasps have been having a good time.
  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
     :D Time to get peeling!
  • bookmonsterbookmonster Posts: 399
    Well, I made my braised onions and apples to freeze for Christmas dinner, with real butter, and didn't need to sweeten like I usually do, so I think that's a success!

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