Hi,
I brought 3 fruit trees off the TV - Conference Pear, Braeburns, and Vic plum tree. I planted them up as directed, and have no probs with the plums or the pear trees.
However, the apple tree had no buds on the branches, but has now started to sprout from about 6" above the soil.
As there are still no buds or any sign of growth from higher up, shall I prune those branches off, but keep them on?
Leave the apple unpruned for now..I would wait for another month before doing anything..sometimes some trees just take longer to start growth.
If after few weeks there is no sign for any new growth higher up on tree then start chopping. You said there is growth lower down..is that new growth bellow craft point (line on trunk were rootstock and crafted stem are united)? If it is bellow the craft then I'm afraid you tree has had it..as it is the root stock that is started growing rather than the top..you could contact the seller and ask replacement/refund as that is fault that should not happen as the roots are evidently alive.
Hi Goodlife!
Fortunately, the growth is above the grafting area - the growth is approx. 6" above the soil level, and the graft is about 3" below the soil.
My first fear was it was the root that was gowing.
I'll let it alone for a while, and even if I dont have any apples this year, hopefully next year it will have grown sufficiently from the lower growth to produce fruit (I hope!!)
Oh..good..all is not lost then. BUT..don't expect your new trees to produce any fruit for couple of years at least...particularly the apple...it needs to grow proper frame work and establish the possible new trunk before it is able carry any weight from the fruit. Even if it tries to flower next year it would be better to remove all the spent flowers before they start swelling and setting fruit. That way your tree doesn't waist its energy and directs all its efforts into growing.
I bought a similar package mail order via a newspaper,the same company now sell on a shopping channel,I would imagine it's the same people.The victoria plum just died and I thought given they were so cheap they would ignore my email but they responded quickly and sent a replacement.All three trees are now doing well a year on. :)
Someone more informed may be along shortly............ but in the meantime, I think the graft should be above the ground level.
Weed-Digga
I think the graft should be above the ground level.
Well spotted!..and yes you are right...it should be.. :-X
Update: Apple tree never ever grew, and the growth was below the rootstock. The pear looks like blight has got it; the plum tree has lots of foliage, but hasn't produced any new growth for a few weeks now.
Cut to the chase: I'm about to mail the company and ask about replacement / refund. However, while I think they will replace the trees, what bothers me is that they say they will replace them, but you end up having to pay postage again.
How can that be ???? If you order a product and then change your mind fair enough. But if the product supplied doesnt do the job its supposed to, why should we pay twice >:( (Rant over)
I bought a Bramley apple tree ten years ago, it has never borne apples, bought the grafting wax to try and graft fom another Bramley next year, this year for the first time ,the tree is loaded with apples, I guess I frightened it into bearing fruit ;D
I had one that produced about three apples a year, and didn't grow. I cut it back, so it didn't produce anything the following year, but it did grow. The year after that, I took all the fruit off. It's produced more every year since. I've done something similar with a Worcester Pearmain, and at least it has both apples and growth. Sometimes you just have to be patient, or mollycoddle them for a while.