Not Many apples on tree

If I had a good crop of apples last year is it possible that this year I will not get so many.I have just counted what is on the tree which is eleven although there were plenty of flowers.The man in the next plot to me seems to have a tree full of apples every year so not sure if there is a problem.I have planted another apple tree close by.The tree with the apples is a Braeburn.

 

I have 3 apple trees, two of which seem to be consistent and one that is hit and miss, I remember my dad had the same with his trees too, so it could be down to the tree as many "wild" trees have years where there is a glut and a famine another year. It could be it is down to pollination, as your tree might need more than one pollinator, or that there's no tree near you that flowers at the same time.

 

Braeburn is not a triploid tree - that means it does not need two other apple trees to pollinate it. However, the other tree you have planted may not be a suitable pollinator, so you may be having to rely on a neighbours tree. Do you know what the other Apple tree you planted is?
I would suggest that you check for suitable pollinator partners for Braeburn - many Apple nursery websites will give you this information - just enter " Braeburn", and look at the pollinators.

Braeburn is a very popular commercial Apple, so I doubt the tree regularly takes a "rest year".

 

West Sussex

 

I found the following on Google.

http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/searchpolpartner.aspx?id=BRAEBU

 

Where I work the manager said you can't grow good Braeburns in the UK.
He was talking commercially of course.

But I think with a cold spring it will always perhaps be a problem.

If I was really wanting an apple tree, I do some research and find a variety you cant buy in the shops that is compatible to growing in the UK.

 

I will leave it untill next year and if I still have the same problem will have to cut it down and get a tree which will produce a decent crop of apples

 

Just found this whilst looking for some suitable apple tree variety.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit/fruit-trees/apple-pear-trees

 

Do you have to cut down the tree to make way for another? Can't you have both?

All I'm thinking is your current tree is producing apples now, even if the yield is poor it's better than nothing. A new tree may not produce apples for a number of years from planting, and even when it does start producing it may not produce a lot in its first few years.

 

I agree, @clueless1. I suspect that the apple does not have a regular pollinator, and the "good crop" year was a fore-shortened season, which brought a near pollinator in flower at the right time. (Late season, burst of hot days etc, can shorten the flowering season, thus making trees overlap in their flowering, that wouldn't in a "normal" year). Rather than chop down a productive tree, it would be better to find a guaranteed pollinator for the tree. Keepers nursery provide good information on pollination groups... Do you know what the other apple tree you planted is? Is it on that pollination partner list?

Depending on the root stock of a tree, it can take up to 5 years for them to start cropping, so you don't want to have to start again unless you have to....

 

When you look at the list of pollinators from Keepers, there are not many mainstream trees there, apart from possibly Laxton.
It also days Braeburn is self fertile.
I'm just thinking its down to the cold spring.

 

Yes, @pete, it is self fertile, but that doesn't guarantee a big crop, just some apples each year. For a good yield, you still need an appropriate pollinator....
Yes, Braeburn are a warmer climate tree, although I would have thought it would be ok in Sussex. Maybe if you had a cold spring over in the UK, this would not have helped?

 

We had a cold spring believe me.
As I understand it, its not reliable in the UK which is why its not grown commercially here.
As far as I know.

That's not to say its impossible, just not totally reliable.