Hello Community,
I must be misunderstanding something. The literature I find on Golden Russets says that they are tip-bearing trees. I purchased one from a reputable nursery and this year is the first time it is blossoming. To my eyes, the blossom clusters (all the green growth) are coming out of spurs. Am I incorrectly identifying them as spurs? I anxiously await your knowledge.
This video may be helpful!
That was helpful to me. What looks like spurs can actually be short branches with the fruit at the tip. The spurs on the other hand were held very close to the tree.
That raises other questions If they were tip growing fruit, what happens to that branch after the apple fruits and matures? Does it stop growing there? Does it only elongate only moderately because the bud on the tip is not vegetative?
There will often be other surrounding buds which do not flower which push growth even if the original tip doesn’t push much due to fruit set. I find the tip bearers tent to have a more droopy branch appearance over time and for pruning them I mostly just focus on removing anything weak/diseased/crowded or reaching too high/bending too low.
I think Johanns answer is correct. I have a Cortland which is Tip bearing, so if you remind me this Fall I can take a few pics of the growing buds that did not bear fruit. My Tompkins King is spur bearing so I can try to take pics as well to compare. I believe the spurs grow each year for fruit only.
Dennis
My Golden Russet looked exactly like that last year. They never grew much and look to be fruit buds again this year. I am a bit further north than you so at just early green tip. I can take a picture of mine if you want.
Excellent explanation. TY for posting this.
We would enjoy seeing the photos.
I have a Yellow Transparent (tip bearer) that is on a vertical espalier. Is there a possibility that it will fruit?
Happy Easter!
I was able to get a couple pics between rain events this am,
Both of my trees were planted in1995.
Over the years both have added a number of fruit bearing points. I rarely trim these just to promote more pollination, then I thin to get larger apples
Dennis
Kent, wa
Cortland Fruit bearing limb
Tomkins King fruit spur
Thank you for posting these great detailed photos. Now I need to pay attention to what mine actually do. Just when I think I know my own trees, you realize I may not be as observant as I should be. I guess I look more closely as IF I am getting fruit and keeping them sprayed rather than where the fruit is growing on the branch. Lesson learned.
Happy Easter to you as well!
Thank you again.
