Why is my Apple Tree

not Producing Fruit?

By: Ashley Henke

Head Horticulturalist

Bloch’s Farm, Green Lake, WI

       There are several reasons why apples don’t produce fruit, including:  weather, age, cross-pollination, pruning, and over all health of the tree. When growing any type of plant, the weather has a major impact on the success of the plant. Weather has a critical role while apple trees are in bloom as poor weather conditions during bloom can have a bad effect on apple production. Cold, wet, windy weather while the apple trees are in bloom reduce the activity of pollinating insects. Even if your trees were in full bloom, those flowers may not have been pollinated. Without pollination, there will be no fruit.
      New plantings will take some time before they will set fruit. Trees need to become established before they start flowering. Newly planted apple trees start to bear fruit anywhere from 2 to 5 years of age. Dwarf apple trees bear around 1 to 3 years of age.
      Apples need cross-pollination. If an apple tree flowers every spring but never seems to produce much if any fruit, it could be there is no pollinating source. Most apple varieties require another apple variety or a crabapple for cross-pollination.  If only one tree exists or a group of the same variety, poor pollination means little or no fruit production. Plant at least two varieties of apple trees near one another.  Information on particular pollination requirements can usually be found on the tree tag.
     Pruning on a regular basis is needed to keep trees productive. Trees not pruned, will decline in fruit production. For good fruit production, apple trees need branches that are horizontal. Early spring is a good time for pruning apples. Keep in mind, however, that apples do produce fruit on old "spurs" so older wood is necessary for fruit production, but the trees need to be kept opened up and healthy with proper pruning.
     Overall tree health is also important. Watering trees during dry periods is critical. Avoid wounding the trunk or root system; this encourages diseases and insects to attack the tree.  Pest management helps keep trees healthy so they set fruit and also helps protect fruit once it has set. Please refer to our website www.blochsfarm.com for pest control information and spray times.
     In conclusion, your older trees can still produce fruit, but you may have to prune them to get them producing again. For the new trees, make sure they are old enough and that you have pollinators nearby to pollinate the trees to help set the fruit. For further questions on apple trees, stop by Bloch’s Farm and talk to a retail sales associate or myself.

Have a topic that you want to know more about?

Email ashley@blochsfarm.com