I have a Fuji apple tree which over produced last year (poor thinning on my part). This year it hasn’t produced a single apple and looks rather sickly.
A soil sample came back fine although a foliar analysis showed the tree is deficient in nearly every category.
I’ve provided nutrients in the soil and via a foliar spray but the tree still looks the same.
Any suggestions on what to next are much appreciated.
Thanks.
Can you provide a picture of the tree? Foliage color provides hints. Also we’re there blossoms produced?
It was late to leaf coming out of winter and produced no blossoms. The leaves are olive green, not the dark green of another Fuji tree a few feet away.
Many apple varieties will become biennial if not thin well the year the trees produce. This is quite common.
Agree that you should show pics of the tree and leaves.
What state you are located in and what variety is this tree?
Soil samples do not often pick up the key trace nutrients that promote blossoms. I use a couple tablespoons on 20 muleteam borax in each of my sprays and I apply gypsum around each fruit tree in the fall to allow winter rains to carry it into the soil to provide adequate calcium. I usually get a very good production of blossoms. You might try adding theses if you do not already
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/hortmatt/2013/09hrt13a2.htm
Thanks for the suggestions. At this point, I’m less concerned about the tree’s fruit production than its health and ongoing viability since it doesn’t seem to be accessing nutrients available to it.
I think you need to say what you have done so far since winter to provide nutrients, give a current picture of the tree and a closeup of the trunk and surrounding soil, and describe your recent weather and rainfall and if you water the tree before most members could help you understand what you may need to do. For example have you given it any 3-10 around the canopy circle? Is it mulched or have you applied any compost, etc
Dennis
Kent, wa
To me, the mystery is that the soil sample came back fine while the tree’s foliar analysis analysis showed its deficient in nearly every category. Neighboring trees are fine - showing none of the symptoms of this tree - so I don’t think this tree is being affected by lack of water, rainfall or recent weather. The tree was obviously stressed from over producing last year so maybe that explains its current state. I’m just puzzled that it doesn’t seem to be accessing nutrients available to it in the soil and via the foliar sprays. Maybe it simply takes more time to recover. Thanks again for your suggestions.
I just purchased some gypsum for my fruit trees @DennisD how much pelletized gypsum do you use per tree, my trees are 7 years old.
For a full sized tree probably 1.5 lb per winter season, for a semi dwarf 1 lb would be adequate.
One thing I thought of is that I use 20 Mile Team borax powder for my surfactant when I apply Surround on my apples. It provides the benefit of a surfactant for apples while slowing the leaves to absorb Boron a key micronutrient.
I thought surfactants defeated the sloughing action of the Surround, defeating its mode of PC defense.