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No fruit on apple tree

shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
in Fruit & veg
Hello. My apple tree (Blenheim orange) has been very productive for years now. Last year it was absolutely loaded with apples and we were eating crumble from the freezer well into April !!!! However, it only had a few flowers this spring so of course there are no apples forming on it at all. During the very hot spell, I had to water it because it started to flag and the leaves turned yellow and brown. It has recovered from that but I've still got no fruit. Is it just "resting" because of the amount we had last year ?? This is the first time it hasn't had flowers or fruit. Thanks Shazza

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    According to the RHS
    Some apple cultivars, are prone to biennial bearing including 'Blenheim Orange', 'Bramley's Seedling' and 'Laxton's Superb' but almost any apple or pear can fall into this pattern of cropping. It is most likely to be initiated where trees are starved or receive insufficient moisture.
    Last year was very dry, so unless it was watered well, it has affected this year.  It will probaby be fine next year.  Bear in mind that Blenheim Orange requires two pollinators, also in group 3.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Yes many of our apples are having a rest year and others did it last year.
  • shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
    Fidgetbones, mine has flowered every year and produced fruit without fail except this year. Although we had very dry spells last summer, that was not the case from September onwards. We seemed to have constant rain all the way through the winter (I live in wet/windy South Wales). Mine has never failed to flower or produce fruit so maybe it's just having a rest this year. I hope so because it looks healthy other than that. I'll keep an eye on it this year and see what happens next year. Thanks anyway.  
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    My James Grieve had a phase of heavy cropping on alternate years and very light crop in between.  It seems to have settled now though.  Last summer when it was hot , I left a trickle hose running overnight in the root area.
  • shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
    Oh really ?? Maybe mine is adapting due to age/weather conditions ?? It's just a worry because it's always been fine in previous years but like I said in my original post, it didn't have as many flowers as usual. I don't need to worry about watering at the moment but i'll be more aware from now on.
  • SueG1SueG1 Posts: 41
    Our apple trees have always fruited every year, some good, some not so good. But I think this year it was a combination of cold windy weather and lack of pollinating insects that has put them off. We have a few, but not many.
  • ObsessedPlantswomanObsessedPlantswoman Posts: 69
    edited July 2023
    My 50 year old Apple tree produces pretty Consistently, but I also noticed It has only a few apples this year. Could be the weather. My plum tree is ok though. But maybe the pollinators were not around during apple blossom time. It was very chilly.
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