Hi,
I had some fruit trees of the TV (you know which channel!!), and after they did nothing last year (close to asking for a refund), this year, the pear tree is in full bloom, the plum tree has a few flowers showing, and the apple tree is barely budding.
But what do I do now? Do I let nature take its course? Do I hope the bees do their work and pollinate them?
The instructions (all of half a sheet photocopied a million times so undeciferable) only had the planting instructions, not any after care instructions. So apart from giving them a good handful of BFB and watering it in, is there anything else I should be doing, to hopefully have a small crop of Conference & Vic plums laater this year/
As ever, all help gratefully received!!
Do make sure your trees are well watered as they can get stressed in the very dry conditions we have been having.
If they are very young I have been told not to let them fruit for a year or two.
As you trees 'did not do nothing' last year..they are practically just like 'newly planted' trees, still needing to grow more to be able to carry crop of fruit.
Enjoy the bloom..and if by any chance any blossom should set to produce fruit, it would be better for the tree if you are 'cruel' and plug any forming fruitlets off.
It will save the trees 'energy' from trying to fruit to produce more new growth that will bare much better quality and quantity crop in following years.
It is important to grow good 'frame work' first before fruiting start. Perharps next year you will then allow few flowers to 'set' to fruit and have a first taster... ;D
I planted 3 (rare) maidens last november, M26 rootstocks and I staked then low and with a diagonal stake. I pruned down to about 1m tall. No fertiliser or compost but just a little bonemeal as I want the roots to go hunting. Very dry here so each one had 2 full cans of water a week ago, so they will now be ok for a few weeks. They are B and C trees and are surrounded by pollinators. This year and the next 2 years I will remove any potential fruits and will prune each year as appropriate to give the shape I want. I have a book called `fruit` by Harry Baker, very useful too
My plums are currently in full bloom, the pears are budding, and the apples aren't doing much. Give them time. I found it necessary to take the fruit off most of my trees when they were small, or they sulked and didn't grow.
My plum is flowering but we had a couple of frost this week so I think it might be another plumless year. I do not know why but the apples are more sensible and seems to be able to choose warmer days to flower.
All the plums/gages and cherries in full blossom... apples just about to start... :)
All in blossom in sunny, sorry, piddling down for the last 2 days ;D Cheshire ;).