Apple Tree Question
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Posted: Jul/15/2008 12:32 PM PST
I have a seemingly healthy gravenstein apple tree that constantly sheds unripe apples (in a quantity that is causing my neighbor to grow increasingly crazy). Any idea why that might be happening and/or what we can do to keep the apples on the branches to ripen? Thanks for any and all answers, also for any advice about dealing with our unhappy neighbor. |
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Posted: Jul/15/2008 2:56 PM PST
Next time I see my arborist friend I'll try to remember to ask him. Try posting this question in the Trees and Shrubs Thread too, I've noticed some tree people pop in there with advice 
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Posted: Jul/16/2008 6:05 AM PST
Fruit trees naturally "abort" fruit when more blossoms get pollinated than the tree can actually support. So, if you had a great pollination this year, the tree is just getting rid of what it can't possibly support through to the ripe stage. Younger trees especially do this. Hope this helps! Oh, and tell the neighbor to get over it. 
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Posted: Jul/16/2008 10:51 AM PST
I also suggest once you have ripe apples bake a nice apple pie and take it to the neibor. Who can resist a apple pie? It may soften there feelings about the tree. |
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Posted: Jul/16/2008 11:09 AM PST
I know my trees shed a few when the crop is good, so that part is natural. What isn't natural is having a neighbor who oversteps their boundry. I would bake a pie all right, but it would be delivered in his or her face, but I would make sure I baked it with the apples that fell on the ground. John |
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Posted: Jul/16/2008 4:50 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by bugnut I know my trees shed a few when the crop is good, so that part is natural. What isn't natural is having a neighbor who oversteps their boundry. I would bake a pie all right, but it would be delivered in his or her face, but I would make sure I baked it with the apples that fell on the ground.John LOL! 
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Posted: Jul/17/2008 10:12 AM PST
You guys crack me up. Thanks for cheering me up. I DID make an apple crumble for the neighbors with those windfall apples -- the combination of tart and sweet was delicious! It seemed to ease some of the tension. As for the original problem, we're going to prune heavily come winter, and in the spring we're thinking of hosing off most/all of their blossoms. Do you think that would have the desired effect? The tree does seem to be especially LADEN with fruit this year. |
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Posted: Jul/17/2008 10:29 AM PST
I wouldn't expect a big crop off of the tree next year. Usually they may take a year or two after a large crop to produce many again. |
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Posted: Jul/18/2008 10:46 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by bugnut I know my trees shed a few when the crop is good, so that part is natural. What isn't natural is having a neighbor who oversteps their boundry. I would bake a pie all right, but it would be delivered in his or her face, but I would make sure I baked it with the apples that fell on the ground.John I was drinking milk when i read this and it came out my nose! You are so funny! My mom used to say voilence is not the answer as we were beating the crap out of each other. And that is the advice i am going to give now. I feel its only ok to give poeple a piece of your mind if you see them less then 3 times a year. A next door neaibor will have to be properly butter up to accept what they cant change. |
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Posted: Jul/21/2008 11:28 AM PST
What you're seeing is a natural phenomenon. It's called "June Drop". What's happening is that not all the blossoms got pollinated and thus will not produce mature fruit. The drop are those that didn't get pollinated. Why in July? Call Al Gore, lol Fritz |
