Every year I get many calls from people who ask, why doesn't my apple tree have fruit? Tree health and environment, bearing habit, the variety as well as cultural practices all influence fruit production. Adequate pollination is also essential.

Usually a home gardener purchases fruit trees which have been grafted a year or two earlier. These trees will usually begin fruiting within four to five years.

All fruit trees require pollination to produce fruit. Unless pollination takes place, your trees will flower abundantly, but won't have fruit. Bees are necessary for cross pollination between two different fruit trees. High winds, steady rainfall and cold temperatures will decrease bee activity and in turn decrease pollination and fruit production. Most fruit trees require cross pollination, which means that you should plant two or three varieties of apples for better pollination.

Extremely low temperatures during the winter may kill or damage fruit buds. Spring frost during the flowering period also may drastically reduce fruit yield. Many years, the flowers on apricot trees are damaged by frost, and thus apricot trees usually fruit poorly in our area.

Fruit trees should always be planted in a sunny location and a good distance from large shade trees. They usually will be poor producers, if forced to compete with other trees. Over fertilization (especially with nitrogen) causes fruit trees to grow vigorously and look great but will delay flowering. Many times, apple trees grown out in the center of a well fertilized lawn, will be very slow to flower and fruit.

This page was last updated May 2003

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