Poor Fruit Yields

There are many factors that can affect the yield of fruit trees.  Here are some of the most common reasons for a poor yield.

• Immature plant. Newly planted trees will require a few years to establish and start to produce fruit.
• Poor site selection. Too much shade or competition with larger trees
• Cool rainy weather and late-season frost. Late-season frost can kill flower buds and pollinators don’t fly during cold, wet, and windy weather.
• Lack of pollinators (bees and insects). There may not be sufficient overlap of blooming periods for cross-pollination.  Add flowering plants to your beds to encourage pollinators.
• Over-fertilization. Too much nitrogen results in vigorous, lush green growth with little or no flowers.
• Severe pruning will result in vigorous growth with little or no flowers.
• Trees are the same variety. Make sure you plant different varieties to ensure cross-pollination.
• Biennial Bearing. A poor crop the year following a bumper crop.  Some apple varieties tend to be biennial producers.