Here's my issue:
I'm really close to ripping these honeycrisp apples out and replanting them with something else.
In my pre
permaculture days I was gifted 3 5' tall semi dwarf honeycrisp apples, and had ordered one on my own from another source,
Being a proud Minnesotan(our state fruit), and knowing how popular they are I was excited and even got an
apple off one the first year. It was awesome.
It's been 3 years now since then, I'm assuming these are now 6-7 year old
trees that are still 5' tall. Apparently honeycrisp apples produce so much carbohydrate starches that they poison themselves when they are not bearing and it causes the leaves to get blotches of yellow and with mine, has almost eliminated new growth beyond a few inches of short twigs.
I pruned them back heavily this past winter hoping the new growth would mitigate the problem, the blotches started showing up again this week.
I have 3 other
apple trees a few feet away from these that have now shot up to 10' and are bearing and putting on more new growth.
I'd have ripped the SOB's out already, but I know that my wife and family(who gifted them to me) will be heartbroken, possibly angry. I don't even care for sweet apples personally, I'm a tart and crisp kinda guy.
Anyone have an idea for me? I planted antonokova seedlings nearby all of them just in case I do end up ripping them out I can graft on a better variety, but I think I'd like to keep them if I can find a way to get them growing better.
Grrrr.
