WA have your apples woken up yet? (forum)

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My apples that I have bought and planted about 2 months ago are still totally dormant. I am getting a bit worried about them. Is it because the mornings are still a bit chilly?

Time: 21st October 2009 12:18pm

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About the Author WA girl
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Julie says...
It may depend on the variety, WA girl. There were a few posts a couple of weeks ago about this - can't remember the name of the thread.

Apples are much later than other fruits, and as I said elsewhere, lose their leaves much later too. If you have a late variety it may come good soon, now the days are warmer.

My Gala and Granny Smith have only just started to blossom. Hang in there!

Time: 21st October 2009 8:05pm

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Jason says...
Mine are going gangbusters, but as Julie says, its dependant on the variety. Mine are Golden Dorsett and Anna and are quite early.

Im eating the apples during December.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 21st October 2009 8:40pm

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Jason says...
I should say, those 2 pics above were taken last week, 15th Oct 2009.

Much more action then my nectarine for example. But again, very early variety apples.

Time: 21st October 2009 8:43pm

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Itdepends says...
My pinkabelle and fuji/granny have only just started bud burst now.

Time: 22nd October 2009 3:33pm

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CJ says...
My Dorsett Golden, Anna, Sundowner, Pink Lady and Granny Smith all have healthy new growth. My Lady Williams has just started in the last few days. Only my Fuji remains, but I'm not panicking yet.

Time: 22nd October 2009 3:41pm

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Julie says...
Jason, those trees are quite close together. Do you plan to keep them small with pruning? What system/shape are you aiming for?

I believe the French prune everything like mad so they can fit more into a small space. I've never tried that.

Time: 22nd October 2009 7:15pm

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Jason says...
yes prune them front and back, dont mind a little overlap.

Those apples are already around 4 or 5 years old so not too rampant.

Time: 22nd October 2009 9:29pm

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Jason says...
You have me worried now Julie.

Im thinking of moving that nectarine to the right. To the other side of that agapanthus.

I dont mind the two apples inter mingling as they are paired anyway.

What you think?

Time: 23rd October 2009 6:42pm

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Julie says...
Jason, I certainly didn't mean to worry you! Just curious about what you had planned for them.
There is a system where trees are deliberately planted close together - almost a hedge - which dwarfs them. But I think it still depends on a lot of pruning.
Actually, the local orchards plant fairly close, and are pruned back to almost nothing. So go for it!

Time: 23rd October 2009 6:51pm

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Jason says...
Ill take a wider pic for you to have a look at.

There is a palm tree behind that agapanthus and on the other side is a azalea which I can swap with the nectarine.

Gives the nectarine more room to manoeuvre.

Time: 23rd October 2009 7:00pm

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Mikey Mike says...
Granny smith woke up 2 weeks ago and my pinkabelle and Fuji are only just starting to wake up.

Time: 1st November 2009 1:41am

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Brad says...
my tiny pinkabelle I just was given in a pot (no idea where it was over spring) has blossoms all over it :)

Time: 1st November 2009 10:06am

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Damo says...
pinkabelle is flowering now in kelmscott

Time: 1st November 2009 1:12pm

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CJ says...
First fruit on Dorsett, Granny Smith and Pink Lady (very exciting!!!).

Time: 2nd November 2009 4:06pm

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amanda says...
My Fuji and Pink Lady apple trees have still not broken dormancy yet? Has anyone else's?
Last yr I removed all of the leaves and away they went (thanks Jimmy) but this year have left them alone (so far...)

ps - they have not lost any of last seasons leaves and it's a bit warmer up here then Perth - does that make any difference? I am wondering (again) if I may be in a marginal climate for even low chill apples?

Time: 30th September 2010 6:18pm

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Original Post was last edited: 30th September 2010 6:24pm

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Brad says...
I noticed this morning that buds on my Pinkabelle are just starting to open, no flowers yet. it was at pink bud for a long time.

Amanda - Fuji takes a few years to get tasty fruit anyway and then the fruit go well with heat. I wouldn't worry if it takes a couple years to figure out when to flower.

If you want to help out the next owner up in Gero - get dorset and/or anna. They'll go nuts - but need thinning.

Time: 30th September 2010 6:52pm

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Jason says...
I understand they will flower once the chill hours they need are done. In theory if I were to plant a super low chill apple like Anna here where I have enough chill for any apple. Then they would flower and fruit super early in the year, well before all the normal apples.

My Gravenstine is just pushing growth now but no flowers yet, the others don't go till a week or two after that. The only cool weather thing flowering right now are the sweet cherries, Peach/Nectarine and Apricots are all finished as of this week

Time: 30th September 2010 7:05pm

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Original Post was last edited: 30th September 2010 7:35pm

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Share-All says...
My Pink Lady has just sprouted but my Granny Smith is being a bit of a nanny and is still dormant. I gues here in Perth we are later than Geraldton??

Time: 30th September 2010 7:12pm

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Brad says...
Jason - while there's a chill requirement, there must also be a wakeup requirement. e.g. if you had anna in a really cold climate and pulled the leaves off early, it still shouldn't flower while its still autumn / early winter.

from reading applenuts stuff, I got the impression that apple trees on the fringes of their usual chill requirement, may appear to figure out to flower earlier in spring after a couple years waiting for chill (that never comes)

I wonder if some water and fertilizer might wake them up? Jimmy?

Time: 30th September 2010 8:17pm

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amanda says...
Now I am confused!? Had enough chill for my dwarf nect's and peaches to flower and fruit this year - first time in 4yrs.
The apple trees are 4yrs too.

Maybe I had better look up their chill requirement. Perhaps "low chill" for apples is still a lot more chill than the low chill stone fruit...?

Still having no luck with my apricot tree - some flowers but no fruit set in 4yrs...

Time: 30th September 2010 8:42pm

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amanda says...
Ok - got it now. Wrong type for here like u say Brad.
Does the Glengarry apricot benefit from a pollinator?

Also Brad - do your apples lose their leaves down there?

Only my apricot and apples hardly lose a leaf - and they are also the only trees I have problems with flowering and fruiting - is this connected to the chill requirements?
Thanks!

Time: 30th September 2010 9:32pm

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Brad says...
Amanda - have a read of http://www.kuffelcreek.com/growingapples.htm

As I've said somewhere on here, my 'knowledge' of apples is mostly what I've read from kuffel creek (the book and website) and the australian reference Woodbridge Nursery / Bob Magnus which is oft quoted elsewhere.

I only started growing apples when I was given a Pinkabelle, but will get some more after we move. The book suggests pulling leaves off or not makes little difference on flowering. I pulled mine off to spray.

PS I didn't mean to suggest your variety won't make it in Gero. Anna and Dorset will produce quicker and like crazy

Time: 30th September 2010 10:56pm

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Original Post was last edited: 30th September 2010 10:58pm

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Jason says...
Realistically your probably a few hundred chill hours short for most apples. Apples here have no leaves left hanging on them sometime in August. And then they flower heavily in October.

Brad I guess there must be a daylight factor or something come into it also but Anna is usually listed a full month earlier than Gravenstine which is already very early so it must flower way earlier than a normal apple to gain that advantage. That would almost put it into January? in Victoria, there's some even earlier apples but not common ones but I see Dorset is also very early, would be interesting to see if all the super early apples are low chill or not. If you could get Anna to ripen fruit in late January that could give you apples here on the tree for a solid 6 months.

With Apricots my trees are completely white with flowers every year and almost all of them set if the parrots don't eat the flowers. But then it seems on the good years that the parrots leave them alone the weather is bad and I get problems with fungus and die back so I don't end up with many fruit, sometimes none. You never seem to win with Apricots :)


Time: 1st October 2010 12:44am

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Original Post was last edited: 1st October 2010 12:48am

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amanda says...
Thanks guys. Fuji and Pink Lady are late varieties - not so good for our hot summers - should have gone the earlier! :(
Is it the length of daylight hours that trigger them out of dormancy?

So I gather the Fuji and Pink Ladies in the shops are last seasons?

Time: 1st October 2010 10:29am

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Itdepends says...
Any apples in the shops now are last seasons.

Time: 1st October 2010 2:46pm

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Jimmy says...
With the new smartfresh system (google it) fruit can be held for 2 years, supposedly without loss of quality.

which I don't agree with, they taste like apple cider inside from the internal breakdown.

Time: 1st October 2010 3:58pm

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Wayne says...
So much for "The fresh food people" don't it make you wonder when they're selling their "fresh" Pink Lady's here today for $5.49kg

Time: 1st October 2010 4:15pm

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Brad says...
@Jimmy - their definition of quality might be cosmetic impression on the consumer in the supermarket aisle. i.e. if it looks a nice shiny apple it must be fresh.

Having read repeatedly that you haven't tasted a decent Gala apple or decent Fuji apple until you've left one on the tree much longer, i really want to know where we can go pick some truly ripe???

Jimmy - do you know if Amanda's Fuji will come good in Gero?

Time: 1st October 2010 4:49pm

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Jason says...
We have several large apple storage sheds around here the local growers use, I know they keep them for at least a year but only if you get the shed "just right" it's not easy to keep them good for that long. The amount of apples they grow and people want just can't be eaten in a week so there's not much option but to put them in storage. I'm sure everyone would have a whinge if they couldn't buy a pink lady at any time other than in June-July

Time: 1st October 2010 4:52pm

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amanda says...
A good apple test (in the shop) is to see if it "squeaks" when you hold it in your palm and rub your thumb over it (with some pressure of course) - if doesn't "squeak" I won't buy it.

It's not failed me yet - honest! :)

Time: 1st October 2010 9:46pm

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Lorna says...
Another test is the tap test. With the end of your finger, tap the apple, and listen to what sound it makes. A low dull sound means that the apple is soft and fluffy and should be fed to the goat. A higher less dull sound means it will be good. Try it next time you are in the supermarket-musical apples. You soon get to know the correct sound. It does not bruise the apple doing this either, so there is nothing to worry about there.

Time: 2nd October 2010 9:53am

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Brendan says...
Yep Lorna, I give 'em a little flick with my finger nail and thumb, works a treat! :-)

Time: 2nd October 2010 2:07pm

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