Hi
should I be concerned that our apple tree has yet to flower???
It was a wedding present last year. It is a ballerina (I think, can check I have all the labels somewhere). But it doesn't say when to expect it to flower!
It is about 1.5m tall now and when it arrived last August it was covered in small apples.
We did not prune it at all as it hadn't really grown very much since we got it, but it is in full leaf and looking quite healthy, apart from a lack of blossom.... ???
Thanks
Daisymay
it's been a bad year down here in Champshire for apple blossom - I think April confused them and then May scared them. Our's only had two blooms on it and they both fell off. Even my neighbour's mega-mature tree has done very poorly this year.
I would guess that your tree should have blossomed by now, but if you don't get anything you can at least console yourself that you're not the only one with no apples this year!
My cherry tree blossomed in February, and those flowers all died off without any fruit. The plums seem to have coped though......
Daisymay,
Some years apple trees seem to take a year off and not flower/fruit, perhaps if they have had some sort of upheaval say moving, heavy pruning, or maybe because they don't feel like it. I have seven trees and there is always one or two that have not such a good crop each year. As it looks healthy it should be fine just 'resting' this year. They are a law unto themselves.... ;)
Someone may have a more technical reason.... :)
I live next to 300 acres of Kent apple orchards and this year we have seen plenty of blossom. My fruit trees are loaded, except my peach trees.
Amazing what difference a few miles makes.
I have 2 apple trees I got in Autumn. They started to blossom over 6 weeks ago. Both have blossomed well and now have plenty of fruit buds growing from it.
Thanks!
our plum trees have loads of fruit and had loads of blossom too...
will not worry too much, it may just be having a year off then, it is only little after all!
Our apples and Victoria were frosted off so no fruit set but the Gages which flowered earlier are loaded!
::)
Sounds like it's a young tree - it could just need to do a bit more growing!
Also fruit trees do have off years where they either fruit badly or take a year off. It could be it overdid it last year and needs a year off. Just give it lots of TLC and be patient - if it flowers next year, try taking off some of the buds so that it doesn't overdo things and it should grow and settle down into a good fruiting pattern.
Also - have you got/ does it need a pollinator?
Lousie