Lack of flower buds on apple trees

[Robert_Brenchley]

My trees have finally started blooming this week.

[Robert_Brenchley]

[johhnyco15]

my fantasia blackberry started early but now its going hell for leather

[galina]

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. 

[Borlotti]

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.

[artichoke]

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.

[Tee Gee]

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;

[Silverleaf]

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.

[Robert_Brenchley]

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.

[Borlotti]

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.