These are next years fruiting and vegetative buds. The two on the outside are the flowering buds (fruits, fruits, fruits) the middle one is the vegetative bud.

Trees are preppers... it is preparing for next year.

Mike

Mike,

If that's the case I think this tree will be producing a pretty good harvest. With it being potted (15 gallon soft-side) is there anything I can do to help this tree produce the best fruit possible? More water during certain times, less at others... NPK amounts, etc?

Having 5 trees in the ground for 4 years I haven't a single fruit and only seen 2-3 flowers due to either extremely poor weather, poor pruning (beginner pruner 3-4 years ago), and poor soil conditions (1-2 inches of dirt, the rest hard light brown to grey clay). I have since taken care of the latter 2 (pruning/soil) with my recent plantings. Knee high pruning, open center, small trees, and raised beds with 4-6 inches (sometimes even 10-12 inches) of soil and compost/manure.

As I said, any help in one direction or another would be very helpful!! Being potted I think I can pretty much do what is needed for this tree unlike my outdoor plantings that are very dependent for the most part on Mother Nature.

I will let others chime in with the specific info for potted fruits along with some others who will figure out a way to say that everything I told you was wrong, :) :) :)

Mike

This post was edited by mes111 on Wed, Sep 10, 14 at 14:21

You haven't given any indication of location. That would help greatly as Eastern humid conditions bring on a host of challenges others might not have.

Keep roots from freezing this winter. That's mainly zone 6 and colder. Keep flower buds from freezing next spring. Spray as needed, depends on location. Thin fruit heavily, about 12 inches apart on limbs shown in photo. Watering can't really vary much in a pot. You'll likely need to water every day in summer.

Potted tree fruits can be very high quality but are more variable in that regard than in-ground trees. The fruit is almost always smaller.

Good luck!!

You think I would provide that information... lol. Zone 5 upper Midwest/Iowa.

Thanks again!!!