Should I be worried?

[Snadger]

I have a couple of fan trained apples on fence which have dropped all there leaves in the Autumn. New leaves are appearing now and will definately get frosted during the winter. Could this be detrimental to my apple harvest next year?

[nickdub]

Being worried is the natural state of the gardener - so definitely. As for your apple tree and the leaves I doubt it will make much odds - just making one tangential observation if I may, it does look to me as though the tree may be a bit too vigorous a grower for the space.

[BUFFS]

it looks like you had some "warm" weather and it has sprouted, no problem, they will disappear in the cold and sprout normally in the spring, it has happened a few times to my plants..

[Snadger]

Being worried is the natural state of the gardener - so definitely. As for your apple tree and the leaves I doubt it will make much odds - just making one tangential observation if I may, it does look to me as though the tree may be a bit too vigorous a grower for the space.

They are Aldi self pollinating bare root specials so not on dwarfing rootstock. One is Sunset and I've forgotten what the other one is.

Both trees have been very fruitful for the last four years and the blossom is a wonderful sight.


I do a couple of summer pruning's (Chop backs really) and they seem to thrive. I still have a tray full of apples stored from them and they make lovely apple pies.

[nickdub]

Sounds like you're getting a good crop, which is as much as anyone can ask :-)

[FB.]

I wouldn't worry.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I wouldn't worry.

FB, you got any thoughts on those trees being too vigorous for the space? We are so lucky having you for advice.

[BUFFS]

The Aldi fruit trees are fine, we have 4 long greenhouse trays of apples, double stacked at least and there should be enough to last to April, that does include the bramleys as well, about another two bucketfuls. Our great summer was about the same as a good English one so the fruit really did perform this year, especially the peaches and nectarines which we ended up blanching rather than not being able to eat them all, they go lovely with home made ice cream, we may never be rich but we wont go hungry...

[FB.]

...any thoughts on those trees being too vigorous for the space?....

They seem to have quite a lot of bias towards their tops but I think some nicking and notching could redirect some of their upwards energy into the lower branches through creation of new shoots which could be converted to spurs.
To increase vigour of a branch (and reduce the vigour of those above it), cut a small-medium wedge of bark and underlying wood out from just above it. The same applies if wanting a particular bud to grow into a branch.


If they're still sending out too much at the top and not enough lower down, a very hard winter prune which removes the top of the 'tree' could allow it to be re-shaped over the following couple of seasons.
However, without seeing a tree in person, or at least without plenty of pictures, it's hard to give precise information.