Granny Smith apple tree will not blossom. - Ask Extension
I purchased a granny smith apple tree at least 5 years ago. The 1st year it had lots of blossoms but no fruit. Ever since that year there have been NO...
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Granny Smith apple tree will not blossom. #814628
Asked October 18, 2022, 5:57 PM EDT
I purchased a granny smith apple tree at least 5 years ago. The 1st year it had lots of blossoms but no fruit. Ever since that year there have been NO BLOSSOMS. I planted it next to a granny smith tree that is about 35 years old but loosing branches each year. The old tree is still producing good. I have tried several shock treatments with no success. I also have a Macintosh and Red Delicious tree close by that are producing well. Can you help please? Thank you.
Saginaw County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello-
You're trees look very good. I'm sorry to hear you aren't getting much fruit. There are a few reasons this may be happening. Apple trees are generally biennial bearers, meaning they typically bear heavier every other year and light in the other years. Some varieties are more prone to this than others.
However, if it's been several years, other factors may be at play. If the trees are stressed in any way, they may have not set floral buds. This may be drought stress, too much water, heat, nutrition, frost damage, etc. Especially during the period just after bloom: this is the time when fruit trees are setting floral buds for next year.
One thing I noticed especially about your trees is that your branches are very vertical. If you bend them more toward horizontal this may induce more floral bud formation.
Here's a great website from UMN with a lot of information for managing fruit at home.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples
You're trees look very good. I'm sorry to hear you aren't getting much fruit. There are a few reasons this may be happening. Apple trees are generally biennial bearers, meaning they typically bear heavier every other year and light in the other years. Some varieties are more prone to this than others.
However, if it's been several years, other factors may be at play. If the trees are stressed in any way, they may have not set floral buds. This may be drought stress, too much water, heat, nutrition, frost damage, etc. Especially during the period just after bloom: this is the time when fruit trees are setting floral buds for next year.
One thing I noticed especially about your trees is that your branches are very vertical. If you bend them more toward horizontal this may induce more floral bud formation.
Here's a great website from UMN with a lot of information for managing fruit at home.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples
