Here's Why Your Fruit Trees Aren't Growing Fruit

If you love fruits and gardening, it makes sense that you'd want to add a few trees to your yard. Unfortunately, even the most experienced gardeners may struggle with these pesky plants. Between their slow growth, detailed nutrient needs, and variable flavor, they aren't the easiest plants. Sure, you can get them to grow into beautiful trees, but actually bearing fruit is a whole different matter. However, if you can get them right, what they produce is well worth the struggle. 

Fruit trees are time-consuming and finicky, which is why you'll not often see one on a list of plants great for gardening beginners. If you're determined to make your tree grow and produce, though, you don't have to give up quite yet. John Snow, a board certified Master Arborist and owner of Tree Check Up, spoke exclusively to Outdoor Guide about what you need to know when your fruit trees aren't producing like they should. 

As he explains, there is no one cut-and-dry answer. "There are several reasons why a fruit tree doesn't produce fruit. It could be that the tree is too young to produce fruit, old age, or even poor growing conditions." Here's what else he shared.

One of the common reasons your trees aren't growing fruit, John Snow says, is because they are too young. Unlike many vegetables, which grow and provide food in the same year, fruits, and especially trees, are slow to bear fruit. "Avocado trees grown from seed may take 13 years before producing fruit."

However, if your tree is fully mature, and not bearing delicious food as it should, it may indicate a problem. According to Snow, "Much depends on the tree species, its growing conditions, and whether it's grown from seed or purchased from a nursery." Before you start worrying too much, make sure you understand all the details about your plant. "Some species, like Apples, produce fruit every other year," Snow notes. Pears are another type of fruit that take breaks between production. 

If you know your tree is the right age, and should be producing this year, take a look at nutrient levels. While nitrogen is important for many plants, too much around fruit trees can cause a lack of production. The tree will grow faster, but in return, fruit bearing is halted. Even if you don't directly add any to your tree, their roots spread far, and another area of your garden with a lot of nitrogen in the soil could be causing the problem. You may also want to be careful what you put in your compost bin, as some items produce more nitrogen than others as they break down. Over-pruning can also have a similar effect on your trees. 

In addition to nutrients and growth patterns, you need to understand the common problems of the species you picked out. "Many fruit trees, like Apples, are susceptible to diseases like Apple Scab," Snow says. It can be easy to fight off these afflictions, but you first have to identify the problem. As Snow explains further, "Many diseases occur early in the season and can stunt or reduce fruit production. I remember my first experience treating peaches. A client had a group of peach trees in their backyard but never were able to produce any good fruit."

If you're new to growing and handling fruit trees, consider skipping a few steps, and years, by planting a young fruit tree from a nursery. It's easy for beginner gardeners to make mistakes when planting seeds on a good day, and fruit trees are even worse. Plus, the seeds you plant may not be at all similar to the ones that grow, as many fruits are a product of specific cross-pollination.

Snow agrees, and adds his own opinion on the matter. "I would typically buy a tree from a nursery rather than try to grow one from a seed. This reduces the time required for the tree to bear fruit, and the trees will have a larger root system." He also suggests that if you want to learn more about fruit trees, follow urban orchardist Susan Poizner, who provides information on growing these difficult plants on her website, Orchard People.