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Loss of apples

FireFire Posts: 17,116
in Fruit & veg

Hi, I have a dwarf apple (Discovery) in a large container and each year it starts off covered in blossom and then small fruit but I only have one or two left by the time harvest comes. Every day, at the moment, I am noticing babies dropping. I put manure and home made compost on the tree twice a year. I water and mulch it and it's in a pretty sheltered spot. The tree itself looks pretty happy with no problems I can see with the bark or the leaves. It looks like I will have only one or two apples again this year. Disappointing. Any thoughts?

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    It is called the June Drop.  Totally natural; the plant sheds apples it can't support or which haven't been fertilized.

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,618

    Discovery needs a polinator (another apple) so you are probably not getting good fertilisation and that is why you only get a couple of apples every year. You can either get another apple that can cross polinate, or if you have a friend who will let you take a few of their apples flowers you can polinate it yourself.

    Last edited: 06 June 2017 10:40:47

  • FireFire Posts: 17,116

    Thanks. Am I right in thinking that it can be pollinated by any apple, not just a Discovery? My problem is really that I have loads of little apples but from June forward - into July and August they all fall away and I usually only left with one or two by harvest time.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,736

    The pollinator has to be from a different variety from the right pollination group.

    Info here

    https://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/pollinationchecker.aspx?v=1102

    image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • FireFire Posts: 17,116

    Thanks Dove.

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