This is actually fairly common. It can be caused by any number of things, but is usually linked to climate/weather, pruning/herbivory or other aspects of the growing conditions.

As you probably know, plants use external cues to establish the correct seasonality of their various processes (leaf senescence, dormancy, flowering, fruiting, etcâ¦). If something happens to throw this off, they can easily flower, and sometimes even fruit out of season.

After a major August hailstorm at my place a few years ago for example, I saw many trees resume growth as if it were spring again. They grew new leaves and shoots, flowered, and fruited (in the case of the mulberry) before killing frosts came in October.

Similarly a few years ago a record cold snap in late winter killed the flower buds of all the fruit trees where I live. There was no bloom that spring, but by July, August, and September, various types of fruit trees were beginning to flower sporadically.

Thank you for responding. I'm disappointed that my fruit doesn't ripen. Before it gets to pea size it falls right off. I think I mentioned earlier that I use triazicide and immunox as directed on labels.

I think I read somewhere that Granny Smith does not have fruiting spurs but blooms on new growth? I have an apple book but Granny Smith isn't in it for some reason? It's semi-dwarf but probably 12 foot tall and growing rapidly. I've tried pruning it lightly for shape. I'll try to post a picture of the whole tree soon.

Well, fruit trees can take some time before fruiting, but since yours is blooming that should not be the problem. Rootstock can also effect this. Is there any bee or other pollinator activity during bloom? While self fruitful a nearby apple (or graft a appropriate scion onto a branch) that bloomed at the same time would improve pollination. If you do not start getting fruit set within the next two seasons I would consider replacing the tree. I suppose some nutrient problem could exist that makes the young fruits fall off.

Granny Smith definitely fruits on older wood and fruiting spurs. See attached photo - this is of my 10 year old tree.

Here in California the fruit will stay on the tree until after Christmas. It lightens up and gets much sweeter as it ages on the tree.

I would suspect that you aren't getting good pollination for some reason - either too few Bees or not having another tree nearby. While GS trees are self fruitful, it always helps to have another tree that can contribute.