We moved house 31st August last years. In the garden there are 3 apple trees in a row. 2 very close together and quite small, 6 foot maximum, and another about 15 feet away. There was also a large plum tree on the other side of the garden but that was covered in some sort of fungus and we were advised to cut that down. Last year all 3 apple trees had apples, what looked to have been a pretty good crop as we managed to get the last of them. This year only the 2 trees close together have fruit on them. They flowered quite late but we did have a crap start to the year weather wise. The 3rd and much larger tree didn't flower at all, has shot up straight in height and is just very green and leafy. Now, here is the odd thing. One of the 2 trees which has fruits has grown pears, not apples. No bull. Last year all 3 trees had apples. We ate them off each tree. The apples were red. This year we have a tree which has got green pears on it. WTF is going on?
Perhaps it's a double graft tree, I've been thinking about them for the new house. Other than that I can't see an apple tree suddenly morphing into an apple tree.
The one tree had stacks of really large nice fruit this year zero. One of the smaller ones now has the same fungus which was on the plum tree. The 3rd definetly had apples and now has pears
Sounds like a crossover to me. Early apple tree front, later pear tree rear If it grows bananas I would say its a ringer.
I reckon you were overcome with transit removal van fumes for the first six month's and didn't clock what was really in your garden!
If the fungus is white furry stuff it's not fungus it's aphids. Get some bug clear. Mix in some washing up liquid and spray it on. Washing up liquid beaks down the waxy coating makes sure the bug clear does its job. Just eat whatever fruit you get
^ This is possible, you can grow multi graft apple trees and get five varieties of apple off the same tree, so why not a Papple tree. Maybe you just missed all the pears last year! That or you neighbours are into elaborate hoaxes!!
Step aside. . Is the growth that the pears are cropping from coming from the base? (Sucker growth). If this is the case the grafted rootstock is a pear and some form of damage has occoured at or below the graft union ( possibly strimmer damage; quite common) thus allowing the pear rootstock to bud and grow to fruiting maturity. A technique used in prunning called nicking and notching is used deliberately to induce a dormant bud to grow by cutting through the cambium layer above the dormant bud. This diverts rising sap in the vascular bundles of the stem and into the bud inducing growth. Notching is the revers. Apple tree growth can be regulated by various grafting of rootstock to topstock denoted by the prefix "M". Pear and apple rootstocks are interchangeable in general, so your apple tree has pear roots to restrict its growth, been damaged and pear growth has been allowed to take place. Either allow to grow as a novelty but don't expect great yeilds or tear of basal growth. To identify pay close attention to leaf, similar but different.
Like growing hops and canna on the same rootstock Same happens with roses Damm i love how nature provides and confuses at the same time
Can you describe the fungus, location, colour ,form,smell, time of year, before or after any significant rainfall, any other info
Loads this year!...A lot people are under the mis-conception that apples trees fruit every year,but due to the last 2 years of being so wet,this is not so.Also, many fruit trees 'rest' every couple of years.
