Apple Tree Problems How To Get Fruit On Apple Trees

Pollination Problems In order for fruit to be produced, most trees must be pollinated. Cold weather and a reduction in pollinating insects can cause trees to blossom but bear no fruit. For best results with apple trees, plant two different varieties close together for cross pollination.

Why is my apple tree not fruiting?

A The two most common reasons why flowers fail to produce fruit are frost damage and lack of pollination partners. Pollination and fruit-set are very sensitive to cold springs. ... Late April and May frosts are common causes of poor or absent fruiting.

How long does it take for an apple tree to bare fruit?

Apple trees need at least 8 hours of sun per day during the growing season. Two varieties are required for successful pollination; one can be a crabapple. Dwarf apple trees will start bearing fruit 2 to 3 years after planting. Standard size trees can take up to 8 years to bear fruit.

What is the best fertilizer for apple trees?

Apple trees require nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium -- the three numbers on fertilizer bags -- as well as various trace minerals. For home growers, fertilizers should have a higher nitrogen ratio to fuel healthy growth. Common granular 20-10-10 fertilizer is suitable for apples.

Why didnt my apple tree bloom this year?

Apple trees that don't bloom may also be planted in the incorrect location or have inadequate conditions in their immediate environment. ... Apple cultivars have very specific chill requirements, meaning a certain number of hours during winter dormancy must be under 45 degrees F in order for the tree to bloom.

Do you need 2 apple trees to produce fruit?

One tree is not enough

To set fruit, the vast majority of apple trees requires a different variety grown nearby for pollination. While some apple varieties are self-pollinating, even they produce more fruit with another variety nearby.

How do you keep an apple tree healthy?

Apple Tree Care

By properly controlling insects and disease, fertilizing and regularly pruning the trees you can enjoy the beauty and fruit of this tree on your landscape for years. During the early spring and summer fungicide applications are essential to prevent disease and produce healthy, high quality fruit.

How close should apple trees be to pollinate?

For pollination purposes, the recommended planting distance for apple trees is within a 100 foot distance. To summarize, nearly all apple varieties need to be cross-pollinated with pollen from the flowers of a different apple variety to produce fruit.

What is the fastest growing fruit tree?

Strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are some of the fastest-growing fruits. They produce the fastest fruiting the second year, compared to blueberries that can take three to five years before producing berries. Fruits generally take longer to mature than vegetables, but some are faster than others.

Are coffee grounds good for apple trees?

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

Is Miracle Grow good for apple trees?

Answer: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is not labeled for fruit trees. We would recommend using a fertilizer that is intened for fruit trees such as, Ferti-Lome Fruit, Citrus and Pecan Tree Food 19-10-5. 24 of 33 people found this answer helpful.

Is Epsom salt good for fruit trees?

If you have some fruit trees, a boost in magnesium will do them a world of good. Epsom Salt is used on fruit trees or vegetables to help them yield larger, sweeter, and more fruits. It works great also for nut trees and fruit shrubs.

What is the best fertilizer for fruit trees?

Fruit trees making less than desirable growth may need fertilization. Apply a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10, in early spring before bud break. The recommended rate is 1/10 pound of actual nitrogen per year of tree age. (Tree age is the number of years since the tree was planted in the home garden.)

How do you encourage fruit to grow?

Use sharp pruning shears and remove branches back to the point of origin to increase fruit production. If you only remove a small section of existing branches, it will encourage branch growth instead of fruit production. So make the removal more evenly spread out over the entire crown, but do not over-prune.

What is the best time to fertilize fruit trees?

Spring is the best time for fertilizing fruit trees, because that's when they need plenty of energy to push out new leaves and nurture baby fruits.

Do some apple trees bloom every other year?

Apple trees sometimes crop bi-yearly, known as biennial bearing, due to bad conditions or excessively heavy or light crops. Some apple varieties are more prone to biennial bearing than others.

What month do apple trees bloom?

Apples bloom early to late May but they can also make an appearance in late April. Like cherries, bloom time can vary by days depending on the varietal.

Should I fertilize my apple tree?

All trees should be fertilized in spring, before June 1. Young apple trees (1-3 years) should grow 12” or more per year. If they are growing less than that, increase the fertilizer in subsequent years by 50%.

Can I pollinate my apple tree?

While some fruiting trees are self-fruitful or self-pollinating, apple tree pollination requires cross varieties of apples to facilitate cross pollination of apple trees. Cross pollination of apple trees must occur at bloom time wherein the pollen is transferred from the male part of the flower to the female part.

Do you need a male and female apple tree?

As the bee visits different flowers it becomes coated with pollen, which gets transferred to other flowers on other trees. Although the apple blossom has both male and female parts (the apple tree is a hermaphrodite), it is self-incompatible. Apple trees require cross-pollination (Browning 1998, p. 19).

What are the stages of an apple tree?

Stages of Apple Tree Growth: What to Expect After Planting

Year 1: Apple Variety Budded/Grafted to Rootstock. ...
Year 2: Development of Top Growth (Dormant) ...
Year 2: Development of Top Growth (Leafed Out) ...
Years 3-4: Limb, Leaf, & Root Growth. ...
Years 5-6: Established Apple Tree.