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Fruit & Orchards

My apple tree is blossoming! Should I let it?

13 years ago

I saw a couple of blossoms on our 4-year-old fuji apple tree a couple of weeks ago and thought it was a strange fluke. Now there are several more, and this morning, as I was picking the last few apples of a really good fall harvest, I noticed several grape-size fruit on it! We've had a pretty warm fall so I imagine it's confused, but I'm wondering if I should let it fruit - or should I pick the blossoms and new fruit off?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
13 years ago
mama:

It won't have any affect on the tree one way or another. Probably the fruit won't get very big even if you leave it till next year. I'd probably leave it just to see what that fruit does. You likely won't get cold enough to hurt the fruit this winter so maybe it will make a mature fruit next summer. Might be interesting to see and it won't hurt next years crop.
thisisme
13 years ago
I agree with fruitnut. Who knows what will happen. I have heard people talk about leaving Granny Smith's on the tree and harvesting in Jan-Feb. You might get lucky and get a second harvest out of it.
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Axel
13 years ago
The rains cause apples to bloom some as they are releaved of drought stress. I remove any flowers and fruitlets this time of year. Because they waste the tree's energy. These fruitlets will not amount to anything.

Grannys do ripen in jan time frame in Monterey bay area, not sure what that has to do with off season blooms.
mudflapper
13 years ago
Seemed like every two to three years I would get freak blooms on my Gravisteen and sometimes other apples, but then a cold snap would do away with what was going on, so not to worry! it happens. on an established tree, I wouldn't worry about it one bit.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
It is a consequence of the rain and relatively warm weather after a long dry season. The fruit will not grow and it will not be of significance to the tree. Al

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