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A Japanese apricot with no petals. #168855

Asked March 04, 2014, 3:46 PM EST

The Japanese apricot we bought last year has lots of buds now. But some of them have no petals, only stamens and pistil, or some flowers are deformed, like not enough petals. I think those buds generally look much smaller than last year. Maybe because it's nutritionally-deprived? But I don't know what kind of nourishment they need. Let me know if anybody has an idea?

Jackson County Oregon

Expert Response

Hi. I work with pears and don't have direct experience with Japanese apricots, but will offer a few comments. One is that there is often a great deal of variability among individual blossoms, and all kinds of deletions or fusions of flower parts occur among the population of blossoms in most fruit trees. Absence of petals or other flower parts, or odd-looking fusions of parts happen regularly in some blossoms on some trees. However, as you suggest, nutrition can play a role in flower health. Nutrient availability to the blossom may affect its size, shape, and likelihood of forming a fruit. In pear, nitrogen is generally important, but also magnesium and manganese. I don't know specifically about the Japanese apricot, but suggest that a fertilizer containing macro and micro nutrients applied to the soil during spring may help support the health of next year's blossoms.
An Ask Extension Expert Replied March 07, 2014, 12:24 PM EST
Thank you so much.  I will do it as you advised me.
The Question Asker Replied March 10, 2014, 1:36 PM EDT

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