Apple tree - winter question

15 years ago

Is there an issue with leaving a developing apple on a tree this time of year? I had two trees that I planted in July. One of them has been going crazy and started putting out Fruit sometime late August I believe.

Being the first year I've cut everything off except for the first one (I've pulled about 10 others off that started developing). The one thats left is about the size of a ping pong ball and still growing. I originally thought this one was Dorsett but it must be the Anna because its mostly red now.

BTW this is the tree I almost killed back in July from lack of water, it really started taking off after increasing the water :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years ago
Stressing a tree as from lack of water can cause unexpected reactions. I have seen them burst into bloom when water was added. I doubt leaving the one apple on will not do any damage, nor do I think it will ripen or be tasty. I expect it will drop with the leaves as the tree does dormant. Al
0
applenut_gw
15 years ago
It's typical for both Anna and Dorsett Golden to set a second crop in the fall, and both will turn red on the sunny side. You can't really hurt either of these maniac trees, so it won't hurt to leave them on (but they will never get very big). Several other varieties will do this also.

Apples slow down during the heat of summer here, but once it cools off they really start to take off. Some of the best growth is done in October, gaining a foot or two.
0
Related Discussions
Apple tree holding dead leaves all winter?
Q
Comments (7)
This is typical of an Anna :-) My Anna does the same thing. I just strip them off and toss the leaves out to keep fungus issues down. They will still push out new growth and blossoms, but many of the low-chill varieties will hang onto their leaves. There are debates that abound about stripping the leaves. I only do it to keep things "clean", and reduce the chance of fungal infections getting a hold, not because it will help new growth appear. Patty S.
...See More
Fruit tree questions (apples and figs)
Q
Comments (3)
Well I'm in zone 8a, so while not exceptionally warm it has been heating up lately. Last week it was up in the high 70's and 80's, this week a cold front came down so it's dropping back into the 30's at night. It's a high desert environment, so high and mostly dry. I am watering every week now just in case, so I guess I'll give it time. I'm just getting nervous since I'm not good with patience and am not seeing any leaves yet. I suppose I should work on some other projects to pass the time and take my mind off of it. I still need to start some seeds and build a raised bed :D
...See More
Question about apple trees
Q
Comments (2)
They are still usable, not only applesauce but apple cider vinegar. Besides pruning and spraying, next year you should also thin them. Be aware that if you let them overproduce this year, some apple varieties will naturally underproduce next year. Thinning is the way to keep their production constant every year.
...See More
Apple tree planting question, sorry so many questions
Q
Comments (2)
A bitter winter could kill the roots and the tree if they are all in potting soil but this can be averted by several inches of insulating mulch (or snow). Just make sure you trap out or poison all field mice (voles) in the area during fall so they don't girdle your trees in winter. If you have pine voles in your area they seem to like eating roots of trees in potting soil, maybe because its a great medium for them to get around in- soft easy digging and relatively dry. It's a good idea to protect the trunks with some kind of barrier- even foil works well. You can remove it when trees begin to grow in spring. If you have rabbits, protection must stay well above the snow line.
...See More
Axel
15 years ago
I just harvested a beautiful dozen nonethesuch apples off a newly planted tree that bloomed in July. No harm done, on the contrary, I have delicious apples to eat. It might slow down the tree a bit by letting it fruit like that, but since I want to keep the tree from getting too big.

My allington pippin is also on its second crop, this late crop is far more delicious than the first crop that ripened in early September.

Anyone in USDA zone 9 or above shouldn't be worried about off cycle crops. We have not clocked a single hour of chill yet so the off cycle crops have been ripening nicely.

I picked the last fuji today, what an amazing treat.
0
ericjwi
Original Author
15 years ago
What part of 9 are you in? We had 2-3 nights already that dipped into the upper 30's. It rarely gets below that though.
0
Axel
15 years ago
Eric, I am in the Santa Cruz mountains in California, Sunset zone 15/16 and USDA 9b, we also get into the upper 30's on a routine basis, and usually by this time we would have had many nights below 45F. This year, though, it's unusually mild, not much below about 49F, a bit concerning, as November average low is 39F and December average low is 37F. So far we are running about 10-12F above normal.

Anyhow, apples pretty much will laugh off upper 30's, they would ripen just fine as long as daytime temps are above the mid 50's. We still pick pink lady, lady williams, hauer pippin and granny smith as late as the end of January. And we usually clock around 800-1200 hours of chill starting late November and into mid February. But on mild years we may get as little as 400 hours. So far, though, I've not seen a mild year like that, this year might be the first.

I generally wouldn't pick the rest of the apples unless a hard freeze was in the forecast. Even then, a brief dip below freezing and into the upper 20's for an hour or two is not likely to harm apples. It's the harder freezes with below freezing temperatures lasting the entire night that may damage apple crops.

Pink lady tastes amazing when picked in mid January, the fruit will hang on the tree even after the leaves drop. leaf drop around here occurs in January. I hear that in mild climates, many apple varieties will just "molt", e.g. the new leaves push off the old ones in Spring. Maybe this year I will see it happen here, but then I can probably also kiss goodbye my cherry crop.
0
ericjwi
Original Author
15 years ago
It was decided for me. We had a major cold front that had lots of wind (30mph gusts) and rain. It blew off into the grass. The color looks good though (deep red and the secondary color changed to yellow) so possibly it is ripe? I'll try it tonight.

This is actually the most rain I've seen around 35F, the high today is 43 and they even say have the word "snow" in the forcast. We got quite a bit in the area back in 2004 and it was only 3-5F less than it is right now

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04/gallery1.htm
0
Axel
15 years ago
We have about 2 more days in the 70's before the first cold front hits on Friday. After that it will be cool and rainy, low 50's with lows in the upper 30's. So not quite as cold as you guys down there in Texas.

My Allington pippin is loaded with ripe fruit, they're going to get harvested on Saturday. My late apples aren't fruiting yet, so after this, it's pretty much over with apples for the season.
0
ericjwi
Original Author
15 years ago
I think this is the first time I've seen "ICY" on my car the entire day. They say 39F for the high now but it still hasn't made it past 36F. About 10 miles North of my house where my mom is its supposed to be 29 tonight. LMAO it was 78 yesterday and in the 60's again tomorrow.
0
ericjwi
Original Author
15 years ago
Not much of it but it tasted good, just right :)
0