Apple cordons - How many fruit?

[tomtom87]

Hi all,

I would be grateful for some advice on my cordons.

I have three that went in last year as one year olds. They bore about 5 fruits per tree but at the moment have LOADS of tiny fruit forming. The trees are really healthy and well established but all of the fruits mature, should I cut some off and, if so, when and how many should I leave?!

Same questions for my new three trees that went in this winter but are also doing well with lots of little fruit.

Any help appreciated as I don't want loads of unripe little fruit and can't find any advice on this.

[FB.]

The "June drop" will thin the excess fruitlets. Don't do any thinning before the drop otherwise the tree might drop the ones you hadn't already removed!
If you keep the cordons well-watered and occasionally lightly fed, they may be able to carry quite a load of fruit. You don't mention the rootstock nor variety nor where in the UK you are or your soil - this might make a difference on how the cordons are best managed.

As for the new trees - whether to let them fruit depends on how well they're growing (new shoot growth), what rootstock they're on, the variety and the soil quality. Generally speaking, if a young tree puts energy into fruit, it will not be able to put energy into building a strong root system, so may lean, suffer drought stress or runt-out in later years. Again, it depends on the variety, the rootstock and the soil/climate conditions.

[tomtom87]

Thanks FB.

They are all on M9 rootstock and the soil is pretty good here (West Berkshire) neither too 'clayey' nor sandy nor chalky (despite being surrounded by chalk valleys...). I get pretty vigorous growth on everything so far with limited soil preparation.

The varieties are: Winter Gem, Red Falstaff, James Grieve, Sunset, Christmas Pippin & Laxton Superb.