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Apple and cherry tree #866856

Asked May 03, 2024, 9:04 AM EDT

Hi, I noticed 2 of my Apple trees that had nice amount of blossom and fruit last year this year one has very little and one has even zero (that one also has a few strange looking leaves but most leaves look healthy). That was an unexpected surprise. Is it true that some trees only bear every other year?! Or could it be anything else - just what? Nothing really changed from last year. They are in the same location etc Another apple tree is around 5 years and never fruits once so far. It has 2 other apple trees nearby that are healthy and fruiting and have very similar or almost same growing condition. Every year im disappointed that it's another year without blossom and fruit. 2. One of my cherry tree (sweet/black cherry) now had a lot of blossoms. And I see little green fruit developing. But it seems to have minor almost no leaves on some branches which seems to be strange too. And some of thedeveloping fruit looks dark instead if green. What could that be?

Oakland County Michigan

Expert Response

Hi, thanks for the question.

Biennial blooming is a reality, but some cultural practices could help to get back to annual blooming. Apparently, some varieties are more prone to this condition. The following link may help explain:

Alternate Bearing, Fruit Drop, and Hand Thinning of Tree Fruits | Yard and Garden (iastate.edu)

Some Apple tree varieties must have a compatible pollinator.  Not all apple varieties require the same number of chilling hours.  If the chilling hours is inadequate, you may not get blooms. If a tree is under stress due to pests or disease it may not produce fruit.  It takes some varieties longer to mature. Check out the following link:

Why some apple trees don't flower (wisc.edu)

Without some visuals, it is hard to say what is going on with the cherry.  A late March freeze in your area may explain the problem.

I hope this is helpful.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 06, 2024, 8:27 AM EDT
Thank you.

I dont get what the first link is about sorry.
I would love to send pics - I made some yesterday. But my phone doesnt let me attach on email Usually I can upload on FB or such if that is an option for you. The cherry looks like maybe some fungal disease?
All apple trees have other trees nearby and we did not have a late frost in March but anyway if we would have one,how does it matter when there are no blossoms to begin with? Plus most of my trees have had blossom, I think I wrote.
The trees look overall healthy.

On Mon, May 6, 2024, 8:27 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 07, 2024, 6:17 PM EDT

Hi again, 

Sorry about the link, seems I grabbed the wrong URL.  It has been corrected.

As the article from Why some apple trees don't flower (wisc.edu) suggests, there are multiple reasons for not flowering. The cold temperature reference was about the problem with the cherry tree. Using the enviroweather station in Oakland County Commerce township shows a low of ~22°F 3/29 in the morning. the If (https://enviroweather.msu.edu/weathermodels/meteogram?run=1&selectedStation=cmc&selectDate=2024-03-29&duration=24&units=us) suggesting a possible freeze event that could have damaged the buds/fruit. Sorry if I was not clear on this. If you are a substantial distance away from Commerce Township it could be possible that you did not get a frost. 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 07, 2024, 8:30 PM EDT
Ok. I don't think we had this freeze here. I could be wrong but it's usually a bit warmer here.
But the cherry tree had blossoms, fruit started to develop and only later I see that leaves are missing or withering/brown and so is some of the fruit now too getting from green to dark brown.

On Tue, May 7, 2024, 8:30 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 07, 2024, 9:35 PM EDT

Hi again,

As far as the cherry tree, Brown Rot is a possibility. This starts with infected blooms that may infect shoots and cause withering leaves. Fruits from uninfected blossoms can themselves be infected.  Good sanitation, pruning, and fungicides are management techniques.  Check out the following links for more detailed information:

Brown Rot – Wisconsin Horticulture

Brown rot - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)

Cherry: Brown rot blossom blight and fruit rot | Hortsense | Washington State University (wsu.edu)

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 09, 2024, 10:59 AM EDT

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