Fruit Trees

[Faye Bryant]

We planted a Concorde Pear in Dec last year and it didn't bear fruit. Is this normal? Do we just need to wait a few years before it fruits?

We also have an old apple tree, which I pruned harshly two winters ago, when we moved here. It fruits, but very little (about 15 apples ). Can I revive it? or do they have a finite fruiting lifespan?

I'd be really grateful for your knowledge.

Thanks

Faye

[Stephen Chapman]

I think you need to wait a couple of years, and besides you should probably be pruning the 1st and 2nd year growth to establish a good shape, however dont claim to be any sort of an expert!
This is a good link: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/ which if you search leads to http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=164. I have the RHS "Essential Gardening Techniques" book - in there It does describe some trees are beyond help due to neglect etc - goes agains the grain with me, but I guess it depends whether you're after a highly production tree or leaving an established but unproductive tree.

[Faye Bryant]

Thanks for that, we'll see how the pear fares in the years to come!

As for the apple, I have the very book you're talking about, but I feel a bit confused about what it is I'm supposed to be pruning out. I don't feel the tree is beyond help it's obviously been cared for, for a number of years before it was neglected.It's skeleton is that perfect Goblet shape. We won't be removing it, so I'd like to learn how to get it back into shape.