Should I let them fruit or not ?

[davholla]

In Feb/March last year I planted 2 M26 apple trees (in the ground) and 2 M27 (in the pot).

They were both 2 years old, should I let them fruit or not ?

The M26 are D'Arcy Spice (which produced 3 apples), a family tree Jupiter, Jester, Fiesta and the M27 Pixie and Ashmead's Kernel.

Thanks to advice on this site they were pruned a few weeks ago.

[davholla]

[kt.]

I planted my first apple trees last winter, both M26. One was 2 yrs , the other 3yrs. I let them both do their own thing. One gave about 15 tiny fruit that was only good to feed the hens, the other gave 6 half decent sized apples. We never picked the apples but just let them fall off the tree.

There are now over 100 buds between the 2 so far, so this year should be good.  Fingers crossed ;)

[goodlife]

Hi
To get best out of your trees in future...
No fruits in first year, second year few to taste and 3 rd..enjoy!

[tim]

I asked this before - "first year" = first year after planting or one year-old tree?

So how old is this one - put in this year - remove all blossom?

[cleo]

I always preach patience(ha ha says he fretting about being able to walk again)-but a year or so letting things establish will give years of fruiting.

Some nice choices there -D`Arcy Spice is superb

[grawrc]

Tim first year = one year old tree.

[davholla]

Hi
To get best out of your trees in future...
No fruits in first year, second year few to taste and 3 rd..enjoy!

But doesn't it depend on rootstock ?
I thought that M27 you get the first year.
http://www.ecomallbiz.com/easy83/apples/

[tim]

So, any idea how old mine is?

[grawrc]

Don't know I'm afraid. Any I've bought it tells you on the label. Sorry not to be of more assistance.

When I planted my apple trees they told me (the people I bought them from that is not the apple trees) to remove any fruit that formed the first year (not the blossom). So at blossom drop. This wasn't about the age of the trees but to give them a year to establish in their new environment before they started fruiting.

[goodlife]

Hi
To get best out of your trees in future...
No fruits in first year, second year few to taste and 3 rd..enjoy!

Ok..."take two"....No fruits in first flowering year, second flowering year only few to taste and 3rd ...enjoy!
Little clearer?

[goodlife]

Oh..I forgot...

It is not so much about the age of the tree...It is more about how establish the tree roots are in the ground that matters..unfortunately often the parts above ground grow faster than roots. Often you see young trees fallen over with the weight of the crop.

[davholla]

Is it the  same with ballerinas ?

[Robert_Brenchley]

I let some of my trees fruit too soon, with the result that they stopped growing. Take your time, and if you do notice growth stopping, don't let them fruit for a couple of years.

[goodlife]

Is it the  same with ballerinas ?

Yes it is..they too have to establish themselves even they will not grow as large.
The m27,m26 and ballerinas do come to fruiting age even quicker than large fruiting trees which would spend several years for just growing without even tempting to flower.

[tim]

Oh, dear. With life getting so short!!

[Barnowl]

It's only a guess Tim, but judging by the height I reckon yours is a two year old.

As mentioned above, the real issue is helping the roots to develop by reducing the energy going into fruit.  I think I would give it a  prune now, which will cut down on the number of buds, and perhaps remove a few more buds later on.

RHS advice here:

https://www.wwww.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0906/pruningnewapples.asp

[tim]

Thanks.

[jennym]

Agree with Barnowl, that tree is definitely older than a year, and is probably two.

But by pruning it now, you will stimulate growth on the branches. If you just want to remove buds, rub them out. Probably better to remove the flowers if you want to temporarily stop fruit forming this year.

[Barnowl]

Agree with Barnowl, that tree is definitely older than a year, and is probably two.

But by pruning it now, you will stimulate growth on the branches. If you just want to remove buds, rub them out. Probably better to remove the flowers if you want to temporarily stop fruit forming this year.

Jennym does make sense although RHS don't seem to think it's an issue.

Last year (two year old stage) I did both - pruning in February then removing about 50% of the buds after flowering but I suppose I've been pruning in order to shape the trees, not to encourage root growth. They were pot grown not bare root, so had pretty good root systems already.

[tim]

Light dawned! Rang Marshalls - 18 month old trees - so predictions were right.

They were so late arriving that we have really missed the winter pruning slot?

Or is it worth a go to help shape it?