Apple Trees-- time to fruiting?

Hello.  Last year I cleared 1/4 acre of my property of wisteria gone wild and planted lots of perennial plants in the space, including quite a few fruit bushes and trees.  This is my first year growing apple trees.  I have 3 semi-dwarf trees of different varieties.  All three flowered at the same time, starting 3 or 4 weeks ago.  The one stopped flowering about 10 days ago and the other two are slowing down.  I still don't see any tiny swollen fruit buds yet on any of the trees.  How long does it take to see fruit growth?  The trees have 7-8 hours of sun and lots of pollinators on it.  Should I be concerned or am I being impatient?
Thanks!

Have the flowers fallen off? and when they fell if did the whole stalk fall (the bit that looks like a tiny golf tee) or just the petals? If the little stalk is still there and still firmly attached you probably have fruit coming, if not then no no fruit this year. I planted some Apple trees two years ago, they flowered that year but didn't set any fruit, the established trees near them did so I think that my new trees simply were not ready to fruit, this year the survivor is covered in flowers, but as it's still small I will only allow it to keep 1-2 fruit if it sets any.

Welcome to Permies Peter!

My apple trees that have flowered and set fruit, show very small apples forming just a few days after the flowers die back.

If it's their second growing year, they probably won't produce any fruit yet. They may flower, but no fruit will form or it will drop, as the tree is probably too small to support a fruit load yet. Some of my apples did this their second year. Year 3 is generally the first bearing year for early bearing varieties, with a lot starting to bear the fourth year and some even starting in year 5 or more. This can also vary depending on tree health and growth, the amount of nitrogen, and branch structure.

Hope you get some tasty fruit soon!

Skandi Rogers wrote:Have the flowers fallen off? and when they fell if did the whole stalk fall (the bit that looks like a tiny golf tee) or just the petals? If the little stalk is still there and still firmly attached you probably have fruit coming, if not then no no fruit this year. I planted some Apple trees two years ago, they flowered that year but didn't set any fruit, the established trees near them did so I think that my new trees simply were not ready to fruit, this year the survivor is covered in flowers, but as it's still small I will only allow it to keep 1-2 fruit if it sets any.

Thanks for the reply Skandi! I will investigate the stalk status tonight.  I think I did see some (very small).  What type of apple trees do you have?

Steve Thorn wrote:Welcome to Permies Peter!

My apple trees that have flowered and set fruit, show very small apples forming just a few days after the flowers die back.

If it's their second growing year, they probably won't produce any fruit yet. They may flower, but no fruit will form or it will drop, as the tree is probably too small to support a fruit load yet. Some of my apples did this their second year. Year 3 is generally the first bearing year for early bearing varieties, with a lot starting to bear the fourth year and some even starting in year 5 or more. This can also vary depending on tree health and growth, the amount of nitrogen, and branch structure.

Hope you get some tasty fruit soon!

Thanks for the welcome, Steve!  I've been meaning to join the forum for a while.  I've grown a lot of things over the years, but never any fruit trees.  The trees have been in the ground since April 2020.  They are about 6 feet tall now; not sure of their true age.  They look healthy, but I know there is more to it.  If I get some fruit, do you suggest thinning a percentage of them this year to allow the resources to be committed more to the growth of the tree?

Yeah I would recommend thinning all of them this year. It's really hard to do, but it will allow the tree to use its energy to grow bigger and stronger this year and perhaps be ready to give its first crop next year.

It seems like when the tree is about two inches in diameter at its base and well branched, it is usually strong enough to start producing a good crop.

Hope your trees do well for you!