old apple trees?.?

Question

i have two that are very old . they still produce fruit. but they are small and looks like blossom end rot. can i bring them back to fruition again? what do they need? my family in ny has vinyards and some of the grape stock is 150 or more years. are apples like that?

Answer 1

Rejuvenating old apples takes at least 3 years. Too much pruning at once will cause water sprouts, not good growth. Now if the trees are quite old, they may not have the strength to make a full come back. There's a complicated process within a tree that sends a tree into senescence......death. If your trees are down that road, it's better to start with new trees.

That said, I'd do both. Plant new and try to rejuventate the old....which is what I'm doing in my own orchard.

Pruning is best done late winter, but dead wood can be removed any time. Also while in the trees look for holes in the wood. If you are finding borers, then plant more new trees.

Also old trees have pretty much worn out the soil underneath. So manure application and perhaps extra minerals as recommended from soil tests. (take the soil sample before adding the manures). Remember roots go far beyond the tree canopy edge.

You'll also have to ramp up insect control. I suspect your "blossom end rot" has more to do with insect problems. Insects overwinter on or near the trees, so the campaign begins with dormant spraying to smother overwinter insects, lime sulfur sprays to burn out overwintering diseases. Then insect control thru the year can be thru regular timed applications or better yet, thru pheromone use. You'll have to do the research, not enough room here to answer.

If your trees are basically healthy, you can also try grafting to add better varieties onto your tree. Can't explain here, read up elsewhere.