Hi Ginda,
MM.111 is one of the least dwarfing rootstocks, and usually precocity and dwarfing are quite related, so it
would be normal to be slower to come into bearing.
Things that will make the tree grow more vigorously, such as pruning or fertility will be more of a hindrance to
flowering. How long is the new terminal growth each year? Always kinda hard to make suggestions without seeing I
guess...
Anyway, my point was that if the tree is quite vigorous, then I wouldn't kill the grass around the tree or mulch
it. That's more likely to encourage vegetative growth, when you want flower bud formation.
db
- in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley - where our maritime climate is holding the buds back quite nicely so far -
with the dreaded combination of green tip, scab ascospores and lots of tractor seat just around the corner...
I planted a Jonathan on M111 four years ago. For the last three years,
it has had two distinct types of buds. Every year, I hope that the fat
buds at the ends of spurs will flower, but they never do. The little
buds that lie flat to the branches grow new branches, and the fat buds
produce a ring of leaves.
So, does this mean that the tree is "mature" enough, but isn't getting
enough sun/nutrients/water/??? Or do I just need to wait? The tree is
not in an ideal spot (I don't have any ideal spots), but it gets sun
most of the day, and this year I plan to kill back the grass around it
more aggressively.
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Did you eat an APPLE today?
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David Baldwin
Courtney Hill Farm
Woodville Nova Scotia
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