Q: Last fall we purchased a dwarf ‘Fuji’ and a ‘Red Delicious’ apple tree. We knew they had to bloom at the same time to produce fruit. This spring, dwarf ‘Fuji’ bloomed in early spring and the other didn’t bloom until the ‘Fuji’ had dropped its flowers. Could the mild winter have caused confusion with the trees?

A: I think it’s very likely that weather was a factor in bloom times. Both the University of Georgia and Washington State University apple publications state that ‘Fuji’ and ‘Red Delicious’ pollinate each other. You could always plant a ‘Dolgo’ crabapple in a corner of your yard and prune it to keep it small but flowering each year. It would provide pollen for both trees.

University of Georgia apple publication

Washington State apple publication