Late spring and apples

[4wanderingeyes]

I am just wondering how late springs effect apple trees. Last year was the first year I had some apples growing on some of my trees, and I think it was an early spring. This year I still have 2+ feet of snow, and the temps have only hit 50 1 time this spring, with high temps mostly in the 20-30, lows in the teens. Just a couple nights ago it was below 0. Should I expect no apples this year? Or just later apples? Should I do anything special to the trees so they dont get damaged?

 

[Prof.Kent]

Usually a late spring will warm up fast when it comes. That's the kind of spring I like. The early spring usually means unseasonably warm weather which starts to bring the trees out of dormancy early and then a late spring frost damages the buds or, more often, the blossoms. Late springs do not cause apples to not produce and temperatures usually average out across the summer months so harvest times do not vary by more than a few weeks in any given year. Whether an apple tree produces or not one year is mostly due to its genetics. Many apple varieties are biennial bearers (producing fruit every other year, or having heavy/normal production and then a very light production). Thinning the fruit can somtimes keep an apple tree from going biennial. As for your final question; No. Your trees will be fine.

 

[buckvelvet]

A slow progressing spring where nothing causes them to wake up early and then get froze out is a success. You'll get some fruit i'm sure if you did last year.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

I like your answers. I’m just a little impatient, when this is the current look of your land


And the forecast calls for 14-20 inches of snow late in the week, and it’s almost the middle of April. With the 10 day forecast well below averages.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

 

[Apple Junkie]

I feel your pain 4wandering. As much as I am sick of the cold weather, a warm early spring makes me even more nervous as the trees want to blossom too early. In our areas, a late frost in May can wreak havoc on the blossoms, and subsequent apple crop. I think you will be fine, in spite of the late spring.

 

[NE PA QDM]

As much as I can't stand the fact that there is still snow on my back porch, im much less worried about a late frost killing my blooms this year. Last year and the year before things woke up early and were wiped out by late frosts.

 

[rocksnstumps]

The late spring we had in my part of WI 5 or 6 yrs ago with annoying April snows every week pushed out the bloom time almost 2 weeks from normal but had a good fruit production year. Interesting that Fall had maybe ripening a bit later too and apples hung on trees much longer well into Dec. Most I have seen that late in the dozen or so years I have watched my wild trees.