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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Digeroo on May 04, 2016, 16:16:21

Title: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Digeroo on May 04, 2016, 16:16:21
Several of my apple trees have decided to go light on flowers.  James Grieve almost no flowers, pixi rosso no flowers at all last year it had loads, Discovery about 30% of norm it is normally completely covered with flowering buds never know it to miss any before, and a couple of small lidl of unknown varieties have joined in.  And Golden delicious rather light of flowers too. 

Is anyone else suffering from this?
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Tee Gee on May 04, 2016, 16:35:17
I can't tell my apple trees are so far behind!

They are only breaking leaf buds at the moment.

My Pear tree which usually flowers much earlier than my Apple tree has a nice flush of flowers on it so hopefully with this bit of sunshine the pollinators will be out in force and I get a good pollination rate, which in will hopefully result in a good crop of Pears.

I am optimistic with my apples simply because when they do decide to flower the weather will have hopefully settled and there will be lots of pollinators about to do the business.

But with the mixed bag of weather we have had earlier in the year I will try and not get my hopes up too high!
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 04, 2016, 16:48:03
so far ive had no problems a really good year i did cover up a few weeks ago as all my pears and plums gages and early apples were out and it seems to have done the trick the blossom is still there or little fruitlets forming so no ive been lucky
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: tricia on May 04, 2016, 16:54:47
Same here    :BangHead:. Braeburn is in leaf but no flower buds at all, Jonagold and Golden delicious just a few buds and a Lidl no name hardly any at all. A Sunburst cherry planted last year has a few flowers - just hope the bees don't overlook them after feasting on the Morello cherry blossoms (always very reliable and a prolific cropper).

Tricia  :wave:
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Digeroo on May 04, 2016, 17:05:02
One of mine is in flower but the rest are luckily waiting.  We have had a hard frost almost every morning for a couple weeks.

But the flower buds are a different shape they are bigger and rounded while the leaf only buds are pointed.   
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: galina on May 04, 2016, 22:27:38
No apple blossoms here either, the leaves are only barely developing.

Luckily after the frosts of the last few nights, we still have cherry blossoms and plum blossoms, might get some fruit after all.  :wave:
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Redalder on May 05, 2016, 10:28:07
Discovery barely breaking leaf buds at the moment. Rest of the fruit trees not much further forward.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 05, 2016, 10:32:14
My apples aren't even budding yet. Plums and pears have flowered well, but I'm wondering what sort of crop I'm going to get. It's too early to say.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Obelixx on May 05, 2016, 13:40:34
Our damson tree was covered in blossoms but I very much doubt there will have been much, if any, pollination as it was too cold for bees and co.

Our bird cherry has some fat buds just starting to open into luscious blossom but the crab apples' buds are still small and tightly closed.   Sensible.

Some fruit trees do only do well in alternative years as they seem to need a rest after producing a bumper crop.   Maybe that's what's happening with yours.   try giving them a good feed of liquid comfrey or other high potassium feeds to encourage the formation of flower buds for next year.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 05, 2016, 14:14:04
took a few pics this morning only quick had to take dad to hospital will have to post all seperate as files are too big
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 05, 2016, 14:24:13
this is a bramley in the background and Adams pearmain in the fore ground dont know if you can see the queen cox or cox orange pippin or the jumbo or the charlesross or red windsor
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: galina on May 05, 2016, 14:33:11
Normally our full size Bramley is flowering well by now and in full flower in a week (daughter's birthday is 'always' when it is at its prettiest - not this year).  But it is way too early to say there might be fewer blossoms than other years.  Just that they are very, very late.  The Rhubarb leaves aren't full size yet either. 

Last night was the first night that we stayed above 0C for a long time, it has been frosty nights for an unusually long spell for April/May.

But things are looking up and it is certainly a glorious day today.  That will bring the blossom on.
:wave:
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 05, 2016, 14:34:51
these edison orange sunset breaburn and a golden delicious stepover
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 05, 2016, 14:39:42
i have nearly 30 different apple types stepovers espaliers cordons and minerettes all are flowering freely cant take pic of them all but doing well this one falstaff stepover
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 05, 2016, 21:32:49
just two more apples idered and honeycrisp in the background amongst the plums gages and damson
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 07, 2016, 14:37:07
fruit plot all in full blossom
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: galina on May 09, 2016, 08:36:49
Johnny, pretty as a picture.  Lovely sight!  :sunny:

The summer-like condition of the last couple of days have done the trick.  The first apple flowers have opened finally.

Plums and cherries still going, we might get fruit set and the pears have started too.   :wave:
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 10, 2016, 15:48:46
thats great news indeed my cover up a couple of weeks ago seems to have done the trick took some pics in the rain today
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: sparrow on May 11, 2016, 11:43:23
Not many here on both a Charles Ross and Christmas Pippin. Last year loads...
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Tee Gee on May 11, 2016, 14:16:36
These are my Apple trees on the allotment this morning.

Three trees all at different stages;

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/11th%20May%202016/IMG_5115_zpsy6hw71ei.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/11th%20May%202016/IMG_5115_zpsy6hw71ei.jpg.html)

This is a red fleshed variety on a neighbouring plot:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/11th%20May%202016/IMG_5108_zpslzbofhom.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/11th%20May%202016/IMG_5108_zpslzbofhom.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 13, 2016, 20:32:57
My trees have finally started blooming this week.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 17, 2016, 15:41:57
my fantasia blackberry started early but now its going hell for leather
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: galina on May 17, 2016, 18:01:14
Now that the large Bramley has finally decided to flower, it is becoming obvious that there are indeed far fewer flower buds than usually.  Guess we will get fewer but very large apples.  :wave:
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Borlotti on May 17, 2016, 18:51:17
Same here fewer flowers on the Bramley apple tree, although I had so many apples last year I couldn't give them away fast enough.  Maybe it has decided to have a well deserved rest this year.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: artichoke on May 18, 2016, 13:35:45
My Charles Ross, a large mature tree, is absolutely smothered in blossom very suddenly after a slow start. New neighbours admired it yesterday, glowing in the afternoon sun. Different story today, all this darkness, wind and rain.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Tee Gee on May 18, 2016, 15:27:21
I'm afraid I do not know the names of my varieties but what ever they are they are prolific fruiters and taste lovely, so what is in a name?

Took this picture this afternoon;

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/18th%20May%202016/IMG_5127_zpscstz371c.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/18th%20May%202016/IMG_5127_zpscstz371c.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Silverleaf on May 19, 2016, 03:01:35
Two of my apples look lovely, full of blossom. I'm especially pleased with the smaller one that I pruned gently in December - it still needs lots of work as all the trees are really old and wild, but it seems to have responded very well. The third tree is a bit behind, but also looks like it'll do fine.

I think I'll have to get someone in to prune the bigger trees for me. They are probably about 60 years old and it doesn't look like they've been touched since they were planted! Far too tall really, but they have lots of character and I love them.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 19, 2016, 10:14:22
Bramleys are often biennial bearers; if a tree was covered in fruit last year it's probably exhausted itself and won't do much this year no matter what the weather.
Title: Re: Lack of flower buds on apple trees
Post by: Borlotti on May 19, 2016, 13:24:57
Thought that may be it, does the same apply to pears and plums. Pear tree seems ok this year, but never seem to get many plums. Well will have just to wait and see.
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