Apple trees not blooming

[Trish1974]

Three springs ago I purchased 7 fruit trees from Stark Bros., 3 apple trees, 2 cherry, and 2 peach. That spring everyone bloomed and looked great all summer long except the cherry trees. They were dead by fall. I was not really surprised, as cherry trees never seem to be very hardy for me. Last spring, those two were replaced by another apple and another peach. It was a wacky spring last year, an early warm up followed by several late frosts, none of the trees bloomed so I figured it was weather related.

However this spring, although it took longer than usual to warm up, there were no extreme changes and we haven't had a frost in almost 2 weeks. My peach trees bloomed 2 weeks ago, but only one of my apple trees bloomed - the golden delicious. There are no signs of flower buds on any of the apple trees, yet they are full of young leaves and overall look good.

These are all supreme dwarf trees from Stark Bros, all set about 12' apart in one area. Every one of them bloomed the first year, none bloomed last year, but my peach trees and only one apple bloomed this year. What would cause my apple trees not to bloom but look healthy otherwise? The ones not blooming are a red delicious, honeycrisp, and mutsu. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can always call Stark Bros and talk to them. They are the experts on their trees. When I've called them they have been helpful.

It has been a wacky spring. My lilacs got burned with a late frost. I covered the peonies to protect those buds but they are going to be quite late. Asparagus took forever to start this year. My plums and peaches will not have any fruit this year because of a frost. I think my apples and pears will be OK.

Not all apple trees bloom at the exact same time. That's why some are better pollinators for certain varieties than others. Apples bloom over a longer time period than a lot of other fruit trees. Different apple trees need a different number of cold days to set fruit, how cold was most of your winter? Were you above freezing a lot more than normal? That's about the only thing I can think of that might cause no buds to set.

You are further north than me but yeah, I'd think it's about time for them to bloom where you are. You might call Stark.

 

[Trish1974]

how cold was most of your winter? Were you above freezing a lot more than normal?

Thanks Ridgerunner. Actually it was quite the opposite. We had a record setting cold winter, there was even a 3 day stretch we didn't make it above zero. We had many, many below zero days.
I did email Starks regarding the issue but no one ever responded. I will try to call. Thank you.