Crab apple dearth

[mrsbusy]

We normally collect crab apples and wild apples but noticed this year - in my area - almost no fruit has set. There are plenty of apples though. Guess there was a hard frost when the crab apple blossom needed pollinating.
What's the situation in other areas?

[Zjho]

Seems hit and miss over here with wild apples. Early fruiters got caught with a dry April, May and June but lates have done well with wet July and August.

[bramble]

My daughter grows crab apples.
The branches were so laden down she harvested them early.

[mothhawk]

Some trees have nary a one, a some are laden, with fruits dropping all over the footpath. Very hit and miss it seems. i wondered if the dry spring was an indirect cause, as I noticed wood pigeons in particular eating buds, flowers, and developing fruit of the wild bullace, so maybe they or other birds have done similar with the crab apples. I've never noticed the pigeons doing this in other years, perhaps other sources of food were scarce or hard to access in the dryness of the spring.

[Babru]

My crab apple has lots of fruit as usual.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
Anybody out there grow this little Apple variety - (Malus Appletini) This is the first time it has fruited but the apples if indeed that is what they are ? seem to be a little on the small side, I was expecting them to get at least a palm size but as you can see this is what the tree has produced and why I am doubting the trees true identity.

I was expecting something near to these in the picture below :-

What I have are these little things:-

I would eat them as they are meant to be edible but not looking anything like the above I just left them and they do not appear to have grown from the 1.5" - 2". Is it possible they need more feed than the provided Farmyard Manure ?


Geoff.

[Plot70]

Those are dainty little apples.
Do a taste test when they are ready.
Is it not shaded by that other tree that presumably dropped that green apple that is on the ground?
My tree has had an insect attack and the fruits mostly have black dots on them. I have seen a better crop on it in previous years except when it got almost deadly wind damage.

[ameno]

I looked up the variety, and pictures seem to suggest they normally grow to about pingpong ball sized, so those ones you have there seem about right, actually.

As for quantity, the tree is still tiny and is growing very close to what looks like a far larger tree, which will not only cast shade but steal most of the water and nutrients. Honestly, I can't see that apple tree ever doing well that close to a tree of that size. I'd hesitate to even plant small herbaceous plants that close, much less a fruit tree. Personally I would strongly recommend moving it this winter.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
Plot70:- It's only the 1st crop as I planted just over a year ago, I do realise the point about being under the Golden Delicious Tree but when I bought the Tree it was described as doing well in shaded areas, so I have fed it well and watered it well since especially the last few weeks.

ameno:- You are pointing out what I feared may happen when I planted the tree initially but as I said above I thought it worth the gamble. If next season bears the same results then a move will definitely be on the cards as you suggest. When I read up on the species initially the variety fit the bill perfectly as I wanted an eater that I could also cook, you know like the GD but space is at a premium.

To be honest both I always thought if you kept fruit trees well watered and fed then they would grow well, I don't know about anyone else this year but the fruit is hit and miss there seems to be plenty of GD but my Bramley's have suffered,. I suspect a good pruning is called for to promote a better environment for them to grow would you suggest thinning out as a good cure ?

Many thanks both for the input.

Geoff.

[ameno]

Hi All,
Plot70:- It's only the 1st crop as I planted just over a year ago, I do realise the point about being under the Golden Delicious Tree but when I bought the Tree it was described as doing well in shaded areas, so I have fed it well and watered it well since especially the last few weeks.
.

The shade itself is probably not the main issue (although it doesn't help). The bigger tree's roots will be the main problem. They will be taking up almost all of the available water and nutrients, leaving very little left for the little tree. Even if you try to water the little tree, most of that water is still probably going to be taken by the big tree.
When they say a plant is good for shade, they usually mean damp shade, like on the north side of a wall or fence. They don't mean dry shade, like directly under a big tree.

[Babru]

Your apples are very attractive, so that's a great bonus.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
ameno - I think after what you have stated I will transplant, I have just the perfect spot for it bearing in mind what you said thank you for all your advice, the same goes for Babru & Plot70......

Geoff.