Got fruit tree issues?

If you’ve planted fruit trees in your garden and thus far had no fruit to pick so to speak, there are plenty of reason why this might be happening.

Your trees may be too young: Many fruit trees take several years to produce fruit; several apple and pear varieties come to mind. Sweet cherry trees may not fruit for up to seven years and peaches take three years usually. When buying your trees check with the nursery (or seller) to figure out tree age.

Your flowers died: If you get very low winter temps or spring frosts while the trees are blooming, the flowers may die and fruit never sprout. Choose native fruit trees that naturally do well in your region to combat this issue.

It’s too wet: In some cases it’ll rain so much that bees don’t cross pollinate as well. No cross-pollination means no flowering and no fruit.

The tree is not fertile: Or in plant terms the tree won’t self pollinate and may need another tree of its same type in the area to successfully cross-pollinate. You should learn which trees are self-sterile before choosing trees for your garden.

Your tree is too vigorous or not healthy enough: Oddly too much quick growth can actually sometimes slow fruit production. Likewise, a tree lacking the proper sun, soil, water, or a tree affected by disease or insects may also produce slowly or not at all.

See some handy fruit tree buying tips and some great fruit tree care tips.

Do you have fruit trees? What kinds and how are they doing?

[image via stock.xchng - my fave fruit tree, pears!]