I have a Queen Cox on dwarf rootstock. It bloomed its second year. They dont' always bloom that early and some people consider precocious blooming to be undesirable, thinking it limits future growth. I dunno. Sometimes fruit trees don't bloom when young because they're growing too fast, especially if they're being pushed with fertilizer. It should bloom when it's ready. Your saying it has 'lots of leaves' leads me to believe that it may be simply growing too fast right now. If you're fertilizing it try cutting back. Once a year should be enough. An orchardist friend once told me that people with backyard fruit trees really should just leave the trees alone, they don't need nearly the feeding and watering that people give them. Most apples bloom and fruit every year but they alternate large crops with small ones. One year lots of apples, the next year few. Most fruit and nut trees do this, it helps to keep populations of fruit and nut eating insects in check because they don't get enough to eat in lean crop years and then there aren't enough of them to get all the crop in the heavy crop (mast) years. It also leads people to think that the trees only bear every other year.

you said it. I think I've truly eaten a couple dozen on my own the last two days, either from trying them or just because I like them. I am glad the majority of the food stayed at my sister's house, but even more glad the leftover cookies are sitting at my home. they're calling my name!

here ya go....those formatting problems with the fractions are really beyond annoying! Apple Cake 4 cups chopped apples 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup raisins ( I use chopped other fruit like dried peaches or apricots) Mix and let sit for about an hour ( less is OK) 2 cups flour 1 1/2 tsps baking soda ( I like 3/4 tsps soda and 3/4 tsps BP) 3/4 tsps salt 1T cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg Mix dry ingredients 2 eggs 3/4 cups veggie oil 1 tsp vanilla beat together 1 cup chopped pecans if desired. Add the oil and eggs to the apples and sugar and dried fruit. Stir in the dry mixture and add nuts if desires. Pour into greased 9 by 13 pan and bake 350 until done�..40 to 50 minutes. Serve with cake gravy! Cake Gravy Mix 1 cup sugar ..half brown half white 1 stick butter 1/2 cup light cream 1 tsp vanilla�. Mix all and cook all in a sauce pan for about 5 or 6 minutes until caramel colored. Serve warm over the cake.

I swear I posted a reply to this... Anyhow....goad you liked it....and glad you discovered it's pretty well bullet proof!... Better make another... Any "gravy" left over? I thought not!! Linda C