4 year old apple tree bought 2 years ago(MM106) not growing( still same size)and apples tiny

[533dHead]

It fruited first year we had it as a 2 year tree, this second year we’ve had it now 4 year old tree the apples are tiny.

We pruned it as instructed, not sure there will be much to prune this year as no growth.

It blossomed both years but as I say the apples were teeny tiny and closely clustered this year. It hasn’t put on any height since it arrived. Maybe a little bit in the first year but it’s still very small. Had read feeding trees isn’t a good idea. So what to do?

Its a Red Windsor.

Help!

It’s been a funny year for apples

one of my trees has loads, one has hardly any

they need time to settle and don’t grow that fast I don’t think

did you buy more than 1? Hard to grow apples if it’s just 1 tree

Apples can’t be self pollinated . You need another tree, that’s genetically distinct (so not the same variety) close enough for pollinators (usually honey bees) to transfer pollen between the blossoms. Oh and they both need to blossom at the same time.

Take the tiny apples off as soon as they appear so the tree can put its energy into growing.

Oh. I just looked up the variety and it’s one that’s supposed to be self-fertile and not need another tree nearby. Hmmm. Sorry for the premature advice.

CaptainBarnaclesandthevegemals

Red Windsor is self fertile and given the amount of apples it’s not a pollinating issue.

So should I remove all the apples now and any that arrive next year?

X posted

trees ought to spend the first 1 or 2 years growing roots in a new location, not putting on height.

have you given it any plant feed? that can help a lot in the early stages. And water during dry periods (a good 10 min soak once or twice a week).

A new tree needs all the support you can give to establish a good root system and then it will get going next spring.

Did you check your soil type was good for this tree? You could try adding potassium and a good amount of mulch around the base this winter to improve nutrients.

Never fed it as thought we shouldn’t and it would become over reliant. What should we feed it with?

Mulched and watered during dry spells. What should we mulch it with?

Should I pick the tent tiny apples off now?

Definitely remove the tiny apples. You should remove them when they first appear. Then it won’t put energy into fruiting. Energy will go to forming roots and growing.

Trees take a few years to get established. 2-3 years is the norm.

Is it in the ground, or in a pot?

Mine grew a couple of large apples last year for the first time. I planted it in 2017. Before that they were tiny and never really ripened.

This year we have an absolute bumper harvest for the first time ever!There are apples all over the ground because there’s so many and I’ve just made my 6th apple crumble!

The thing I did differently was that in the winter 2021 I tied grease bands around the trunk and branches to prevent pests. Then last spring I collected all my egg shells, crushed them up and poured vinegar on them. You leave it to soak for an hour and then dilute it all with water before watering the apple tree with the solution - I forget where I read this now. I then watered weekly from the water butt. Whether it was the grease bands, the egg shells or the frequent watering I don’t know, but something worked!

I did nothing at all this year, I may have watered it a couple of times but no more, as I have had a lot going on.

It’s in the ground.

You need to give it a few years to establish - remove any apples when tiny for the first few years as that'll give it a chance to put its energy into growing roots.

We had this tree at a previous house and think we got our first decent crop of apples four years after planting (it was a two year old tree when we got it).

Remove the tiny apples and next year remove/thin most of the crop - just leave a few to develop on each branch. Then hopefully the tree will put growth into establishing a good root system.