We have a Cox Pippin flanked by a Belle de Boskoop and a Fameuse. Last year the Cox and Belle both produced heavily (the Fameuse was still too young) but this year the Cox has no buds and its leaves a little curled. The other trees look great. They were all pruned and fed potash over the winter. Any suggestions? Any hope of resurrecting her for this year?
Not easy to grow in all parts of the PNW. I usually have the fruit crack etc. in Island County, WA. Cool it with the potash, unless you have a soil test report calling for it.
If the Cox is young and had a heavy crop last year, it is pretty normal for any kind of apple to skip flower production for a year under those circumstances. Young trees should not be allowed to bear heavily for that reason. It will probably have a normal crop next year, but this year is lost. Some apples have a genetic tendency to bear in alternate years, but I don't know if that is the case for the Cox's Orange.
We don't know how old the tree is; it came with the house and we've been here 4 years. I think the trees had been neglected and our efforts produced results last year for the first time. I just can't figure out why the other two are doing well and this one is not.
