Apples and chestnuts falling, is this normal.

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by harmola, Jun 27, 2010.

  1. harmola

    harmola Apprentice Gardener

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    Hello all, I noticed an unusual number of fallen apples in my garden in the last few days and today I noticed that chestnuts are falling too, the chestnut stems seem to be withering away on the tree and then the chestnuts are falling.

    I have noticed apples falling in previous years but only when there is a lot of wind which there hasn't been in the last while.

    Is this normal or what would be the cause?

    I am in Ireland.

    I have attached some photos.
     
  2. Rhyleysgranny

    Rhyleysgranny Gardener

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    Could be the very dry warm weather. Put the sprinkler/hose on them for a while................like a few hours. I notice even some of my very mature shrubs and trees are needing frequent drinks at the mo.
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Apples tend to drop around this time of the year its normal.
    As long as a good few remain its not a problem.

    The conkers are another thing though, a few dropping from the stem is normal, but the whole stem dropping seems strange.
     
  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    For apples it's called the 'June drop', nature's way of thinning out the excess crop - it's quite normal and happens when the trees manage to pollinate all their flowers, if all the fruit were to develop there would be too much weight for the branches. So the tree natutrally drops some off. You will still get a good harvest.

    Can't say I've heard of conkers doing the same thing though :scratch:
     
  5. Alice

    Alice Gardener

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    As JWK says Harmola, it's the June drop. It's perfectly normal.
     
  6. harmola

    harmola Apprentice Gardener

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    Thanks everybody, I cut the chestnuts to get a photo of where the chestnuts were fracturing by the way, you can see how it is shriveled at the top.
     
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