Constant Bramley failure!

cheryl felix

I have appalling luck trying to grow Bramleys. This year (the tree is 3 years old) the leaves are curled and the 'apples' pitifully small, like marbles. The tree is well watered and I try to keep it nourished with compost. Where am I going wrong? There have also been small black insects under the leaves, despite spraying.

Stephanie29

The image doesn't show, Cheryl felix. Have you got other apples in your garden that do better?

Joy*

Have you got 2 other apple trees which flower at the same time as the bramley? Bramleys are known as triploid which means that they need to be fertilised by 2 other trees in order to get fruit. Usually apples are put into groups so that you can buy 2 others belonging to the same group as the bramley, but in essence, you just need them to flower simultaneously. 

cheryl felix

Thanks both. Yes, there’s a golden delicious and an Annie. They seem healthy, although few fruits and very small again. 

steephill

The small black insects are the likely cause, I have the same issue with one of my cider trees this year. However a 3 year old Bramley is still just a baby so personally I wouldn't have let it carry more than a couple of apples this year anyway.

As mentioned you need another two different but compatible apple trees nearby to get any fruit. 

cheryl felix

Maybe I’m too impatient! I’ll prune it well in the autumn n see what next year brings 😞

Dovefromabove

Bramley Apple trees are partial tip beaters do you prune them differently to other apple trees. I’m no expert so I hope someone else can explain ... but I really wouldn’t have thought that a three year old tree needs much pruning. 

Stephanie29

Like Dove said, it's probably a mistake to prune the Bramley as it flowers and fruits on previous' years growth. 3 years is fairly young. Did you plant the other two at the same time or are they older? They are in the ground I assume, not in a pot. Maybe you bought a very dwarfing rootstock and the soil is wet and heavy plus shade, that could be a difficult combination for an apple. But maybe it just needs some time to establish.

wild edges

I'm fairly sure I remember Constant Bramley Failure playing a session on the John Peel show back in the day. Triploid Pollination was their biggest hit.

cheryl felix

Dunno, I’m very much an amateur and have never pruned a tree! It’s a year younger than the other two apple trees in the garden, plus neighbours have apple trees, but the fruits on all 3 of mine are few and tiny. Maybe the black bugs are to blame. 

Joy*

I haven't been able to see a photograph.  Perhaps if we saw the tree we could offer more help. Bramleys are lovely apples but can be a bit awkward to get going. I wouldn't prune yet if they are really young. When you say that it is 3 years old, do you mean that you have had it for 3 years? They can be alternate year fritters too. If you are getting flowers but the fruit isn't maturing it is probably a pollination problem. Unless the  trees are dripping with bugs I can't see that they are the problem.