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Non fruiting apple tree

BackwoodsmanBackwoodsman Posts: 7
in Fruit & veg

I planted three M26 root stock container grown apple trees last Autumn, two eating varieties and a cooker. All trees have established very well in well cultivated soil and the two desert apples produced lots of blossom which is being followed by what appears to be a very heavy crop of fruit. The cooker has fared less kindly and although a small amount of blossom was produced on the tips this has died off leaving behind no sign of fruit whatsoever. I chose the varieties that flower at the same time to ensure cross pollination. The trees are 2/3 years old. Can anyone help as to the reason why the cooker is not fruiting please? The foliage is tremendously healthy so the tree appears to have established itself well. Could the reason be that there has been no cross pollination of the cooker or has the method of pruning I used been the cause. Any advice would be warmly welcomed.

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  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Some varieties tend to go in 2-year cycles with masses of fruit one year, little or none the next.  What variety of cooker is it?

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • BackwoodsmanBackwoodsman Posts: 7

    Hi Bob, it appears that my reply did not transmit so to answer your question, the cooker is called "Bountiful".

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Have a look on the orangepippintrees site which has lots of info on types.  According to them it's a flowering group 2 and a list of pollination partners are here, so check that your other varieties are in the list:

    http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/pollinationchecker.aspx?v=1098

    If so, it might just need another year to get going properly.

     

     

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • BackwoodsmanBackwoodsman Posts: 7

    Thanks for that again Bob. I have looked at the site you mentioned and indeed it does say group 2. However, I purchased the trees from a very reputable grower (Blackmoor) and they state it is flowering group 3 hence my selection of this variety to fit in with my other trees purchased! In reality, all three trees did flower at the same time so they should have cross pollinated as we have a large population of bumble bees amongst others that visit our garden. You may be spot on with your comment that it could be a two year fruiting cycle on this variety. Time will tell!

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