Why do apple ovaries fall off - what to do
Content:
The apple tree is probably the most popular fruit tree among gardeners. But the joy of growing can be overshadowed by the fact that ovaries constantly fall off the plant and there are very few apples in the fall.
Reasons for dropping the ovary
Scattering of ovaries is a serious problem that negatively affects yields.
The reasons why the ovaries fall off the apple tree:
- Lack of nutrients in the soil.
- Damage to the tree by diseases or pests.
- Improperly organized watering.
- There are too many ovaries on the tree.
- Old age of the tree.
Falling as a natural stage in the development of culture
The fall of inflorescences can be a completely natural and natural process. This is another reason why the ovary crumbles on an apple tree.
There is even a special name for this phenomenon - the July fall. Thus, the tree independently regulates the number of inflorescences and gets rid of unnecessary, weak ovaries. So the apple tree frees itself from unnecessary stress, since one adult tree can give no more than 50 thousand flowers per season.
Early crop loss as a characteristic of the variety
Another reason why the apple tree sheds fruit is a feature of some varieties. The tree can also discard some of the ripe fruit. For example, this can be in varieties with a weak peduncle. During a strong wind or rain, this causes the color to fall off on fruit trees.
Falling apples due to improper watering
The tree can drop apples in July and August due to improper watering. Any plant needs enough water. Especially in hot weather and during the ripening period of fruits, therefore, you should not forget about regular watering.
When the apple tree drops the ovary, what to do:
- As a preventive measure, you can mulch the soil. So the water will not evaporate quickly, and the soil will always be moist, in addition, weeds will not grow.
- On average, one adult tree takes 10-15 liters of water.
- Before watering, you can weed the soil so that oxygen enters the soil along with the water.
Improper nutrition as a cause of falling apples
Lack of nutrients is another reason why apple ovaries crumble.
If the ovaries on the apple tree have dried up, what to do:
- The tree needs phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen for normal growth, as well as other minerals in smaller quantities.
- Every year in the fall, rotted manure or compost can be brought into the soil and dug up the earth with it. This will not only make it more nutritious, but also protect the root system from frost.
- With the onset of spring, the apple tree can be fed with nitrogen so that the growth of deciduous mass is more active.
- As the ovaries appear, nitrogen is stopped and the plant is fed with fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus. Such dressing has a positive effect on fruiting.
The main thing is not to overfeed the tree, otherwise, instead of a bountiful harvest, you can only get an apple tree with a very lush crown.
How to deal with falling ovaries
Why ovaries or apple trees fall off in pears - most often the reasons are the same.
What to do to prevent the ovaries from falling off:
- Adjust watering and prevent the soil from drying out.
- Introduce mineral and organic fertilizing.
- For the winter, insulate the lower part of the trunk and the trunk circle.
- Treat the crown from pests.
- Thin the tree in spring by cutting off thin and dried twigs.
If all the stages of care are regularly followed, and the ovaries still fall off, then the tree itself sheds excess fruits. You don't need to do anything about it. This is a natural process.
Optimization of care
If the fruits grow small and constantly crumble, then the problem is in the care.
Why does the ovary fall on the apple tree and what to do with it? Observe the rules of agricultural technology:
- Irrigation technique
There are two techniques for watering fruit trees that you need to alternate with each other. The first is to water the tree with a watering can under the trunk. This is the most commonly used method. Water only with warm water.
The second way is sprinkling. In this case, the tree is watered with a hose along with the crown. It turns out, as it were, an imitation of rain. Such watering is useful in that you can wash away dust and dirt from the leaves.
- Balanced diet
In order for the nutrition of the apple tree to be balanced, you need to alternate organic and mineral fertilizing. If everything is done correctly, the ovaries will not turn black.
- Pruning
Another important step is pruning the crown. There are several types of pruning - formative, sanitary, and thinning.
Forming is carried out at the stage of seedling growth. In the future, it is used as needed. In spring, sanitary pruning is usually done when dry and damaged branches are cut.
Thinning is also done as needed in the middle of summer. During it, thin non-bearing branches in the depths of the crown are cut off, because even if flowers can be tied on them, due to a lack of light, fruits will not work on them.
Prophylaxis
As soon as the fruits began to set, preventive measures should be taken against their abscission. For example, you can mulch the soil. The layer of mulch should be at least 10 cm. Usually sawdust, straw, manure, peat or agrofibre are used.
It is important to protect trees from pests. The crown is sprayed with fungicides - Horus, Skor. Bordeaux liquid is also effective. In order to prevent insects from appearing in the spring, they rake up all the leaves in the fall and dig up the soil to a depth of 10 cm.
Falling inflorescences and ovaries on an apple tree is a common problem that gardeners face at different periods. This can begin in spring, when the inflorescences have just faded, or in summer, when small apples have already appeared. In one case or another, you need to find out the cause of this problem and immediately solve it, so as not to be left without a crop at all.