While some of us have been picking fruit, some have not. Some gardeners enjoyed branches hanging down with lemons/oranges, pears, peaches, etc and other gardeners are wondering, “Why didn’t my plant produce?”
Fruitless trees are a real disappointment. Why have a fruit tree without fruit? You might think there is no point and should just remove it. Before you do this, consider these fruit tree basics.
Often there is no silver bullet fix to this dilemma, but there might be some things you can work on first.
Does the plant bloom?
If the plant does not bloom, it cannot fruit.
However, scientists cannot adequately explain why some plants bloom and others do not.
It may not be old enough. Apple trees require two to five years from planting to bear while peaches usually bear in two to four years. Pears require four to six years and plums three to six years before they will bear. Blueberries often bloom the first year, and blackberries the first or second year.
If the tree is not blooming, there is no simple care. Just make sure the plant gets what it needs.
Poor tree health may keep plants from producing. Is the tree growing well? Is the area too dry or too wet? Remove weeds and grass around trees and replace with mulch. Never let lawnmowers or weed eaters hit the trees. Did you dig a wide planting hole when planting? Did you plant the tree too deep? Trees need to have the initial root flare exposed when planting, you want to avoid the pole-inthe- ground look.
Make sure the trees have at least six to eight hours of sun a day. Plant them away from other plants that may compete with them for water and nutrients. Water them once a week during drought with one inch of water and fertilize lightly two or three times a year.
Prune in late January or February. Soil sample to see if the plant needs lime. This last one is very important. I don’t recommend just giving the tree lime or fertilizer without testing the soil first.
Another reason for lack of production is cold weather. Late frosts kill flower buds. This leads to short fruit crops. Always plant recommended varieties for our area. Call our office for a list.
Some plants need a pollinator, most do really.
Some plants bloom but never set fruit. Many apple, pear and some plum trees and muscadine vines are like this. Once again, consult Extension bulletins to determine what variety of fruit you must plant as a pollinator for your specific variety of fruit grown.
Does the tree produce but fruit is knotty, bug bitten or rotten? Some fruits have so many pests that they need several sprays between bloom and harvest. Peaches and apples appear to be the worst, while plums are often not far behind.
What can we do? Spray them regularly beginning at bloom with a ‘home orchard’ or ‘home fruit tree’ spray. Or you can quit growing these fruits and replace them with easier to grow fruits like blueberry, blackberry, muscadine, Oriental persimmon or strawberry.
I haven’t even touched on Pecans but most in the area suffer from scab. This is a fungal disease that can only be prevented through an intense regimen of fungicides and fertilization with lots and lots of water.
For most homeowners the inputs far outweigh the benefits and just getting what you can is the best route to take.
Fruitless fruit trees are aggravating. These tips may or may not help them produce but should improve overall plant health.
For more information contact me at revans90@uga.edu or call. Our number is 912-653-2231 for Bryan County and 912-876-2133 for Liberty County residents. Don’t let fruitless trees get you down!
