Lying on the ground, under the apple tree, are dozens of apples, no
larger than grapes. Normal precipitaion by June 15 is just under 19"
but this year the amt. is just over 26".

Did this above-average precip cause the apples to drop prematurely?

Thanks,
Jack (Mid-Atlantic, zone 7)

It's called the "June drop", and it's perfectly normal. In a good year,
when there's lots of flowers and a high rate of pollination, the tree will
produce more apples than it has the resources to mature. It will drop the
excess when they are grape-sized, just as you describe. Not to worry.

Cheers,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


"BroJack" wrote in message
...
Lying on the ground, under the apple tree, are dozens of apples, no
larger than grapes. Normal precipitaion by June 15 is just under 19"
but this year the amt. is just over 26".

Did this above-average precip cause the apples to drop prematurely?

Thanks,
Jack (Mid-Atlantic, zone 7)

On Sun, 15 Jun 2003 12:18:29 GMT, "SugarChile"
wrote:

It's called the "June drop", and it's perfectly normal. In a good year,
when there's lots of flowers and a high rate of pollination, the tree will
produce more apples than it has the resources to mature. It will drop the
excess when they are grape-sized, just as you describe. Not to worry.

Cheers,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA

Thank you.

Perhaps the little critters should be called "grapples."

Jack

"BroJack" wrote in message
...
Lying on the ground, under the apple tree, are dozens of apples, no
larger than grapes. Normal precipitaion by June 15 is just under 19"
but this year the amt. is just over 26".

Did this above-average precip cause the apples to drop prematurely?

Thanks,
Jack (Mid-Atlantic, zone 7)