Q.Red Delicious: Failure to fruit successfully
About 12 years ago I planted a Red Delicious and a Granny Smith apple tree about 20 feet apart. Both trees look great. The Granny Smith has borne fruit for several years. The Red Delicious only has red/yellow marble-sized fruit, never a full sized apple. What is causing this? Could it be lack of chill hours ? I live in middle Georgia and we usually experience mild winters. Lack of pollination ? An unsuccessfully grafted tree that thinks it’s a crab-apple tree ? If someone can answer I would appreciate it. Thanks
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
This does sound like the graft union failed, leaving the original rootstock. This is likely grafted to a crabapple or other rootstock and this is the fruit that you are seeing. Unfortunately this will be permanent and irreversible. You will have to plant another tree to enjoy the red delicious apple.
