Lack of flower buds on apple trees

[Digeroo]

Several of my apple trees have decided to go light on flowers.  James Grieve almost no flowers, pixi rosso no flowers at all last year it had loads, Discovery about 30% of norm it is normally completely covered with flowering buds never know it to miss any before, and a couple of small lidl of unknown varieties have joined in.  And Golden delicious rather light of flowers too. 

Is anyone else suffering from this?

[Digeroo]

[Tee Gee]

I can't tell my apple trees are so far behind!

They are only breaking leaf buds at the moment.

My Pear tree which usually flowers much earlier than my Apple tree has a nice flush of flowers on it so hopefully with this bit of sunshine the pollinators will be out in force and I get a good pollination rate, which in will hopefully result in a good crop of Pears.

I am optimistic with my apples simply because when they do decide to flower the weather will have hopefully settled and there will be lots of pollinators about to do the business.

But with the mixed bag of weather we have had earlier in the year I will try and not get my hopes up too high!

[johhnyco15]

so far ive had no problems a really good year i did cover up a few weeks ago as all my pears and plums gages and early apples were out and it seems to have done the trick the blossom is still there or little fruitlets forming so no ive been lucky

[tricia]

Same here    . Braeburn is in leaf but no flower buds at all, Jonagold and Golden delicious just a few buds and a Lidl no name hardly any at all. A Sunburst cherry planted last year has a few flowers - just hope the bees don't overlook them after feasting on the Morello cherry blossoms (always very reliable and a prolific cropper).

Tricia 

[Digeroo]

One of mine is in flower but the rest are luckily waiting.  We have had a hard frost almost every morning for a couple weeks.

But the flower buds are a different shape they are bigger and rounded while the leaf only buds are pointed.   

[galina]

No apple blossoms here either, the leaves are only barely developing.

Luckily after the frosts of the last few nights, we still have cherry blossoms and plum blossoms, might get some fruit after all. 

[Redalder]

Discovery barely breaking leaf buds at the moment. Rest of the fruit trees not much further forward.

[Robert_Brenchley]

My apples aren't even budding yet. Plums and pears have flowered well, but I'm wondering what sort of crop I'm going to get. It's too early to say.

[Obelixx]

Our damson tree was covered in blossoms but I very much doubt there will have been much, if any, pollination as it was too cold for bees and co.

Our bird cherry has some fat buds just starting to open into luscious blossom but the crab apples' buds are still small and tightly closed.   Sensible.

Some fruit trees do only do well in alternative years as they seem to need a rest after producing a bumper crop.   Maybe that's what's happening with yours.   try giving them a good feed of liquid comfrey or other high potassium feeds to encourage the formation of flower buds for next year.

[johhnyco15]

took a few pics this morning only quick had to take dad to hospital will have to post all seperate as files are too big

[johhnyco15]

this is a bramley in the background and Adams pearmain in the fore ground dont know if you can see the queen cox or cox orange pippin or the jumbo or the charlesross or red windsor

[galina]

Normally our full size Bramley is flowering well by now and in full flower in a week (daughter's birthday is 'always' when it is at its prettiest - not this year).  But it is way too early to say there might be fewer blossoms than other years.  Just that they are very, very late.  The Rhubarb leaves aren't full size yet either. 

Last night was the first night that we stayed above 0C for a long time, it has been frosty nights for an unusually long spell for April/May.

But things are looking up and it is certainly a glorious day today.  That will bring the blossom on.

[johhnyco15]

these edison orange sunset breaburn and a golden delicious stepover

[johhnyco15]

i have nearly 30 different apple types stepovers espaliers cordons and minerettes all are flowering freely cant take pic of them all but doing well this one falstaff stepover

[johhnyco15]

just two more apples idered and honeycrisp in the background amongst the plums gages and damson

[johhnyco15]

fruit plot all in full blossom

[galina]

Johnny, pretty as a picture.  Lovely sight! 

The summer-like condition of the last couple of days have done the trick.  The first apple flowers have opened finally.

Plums and cherries still going, we might get fruit set and the pears have started too.   

[johhnyco15]

thats great news indeed my cover up a couple of weeks ago seems to have done the trick took some pics in the rain today

[sparrow]

Not many here on both a Charles Ross and Christmas Pippin. Last year loads...

[Tee Gee]

These are my Apple trees on the allotment this morning.

Three trees all at different stages;



This is a red fleshed variety on a neighbouring plot: