| 
 Don, 
I have a Cortland which produces apples that are 
quite good, and what is special about Cortland is that the flesh does not turn 
brown when exposed to air.   
What I don't like about Cortland is that it is not 
disease resistant. Consequently, I have had to struggle with crown rot amongst 
other problems which is slowly getting the best of my tree.  
 The Cortland will bloom again this year 
(yes, apple trees have not bloomed here, yet), but I can see the time soon when 
I will decide to cut it; that tree is damaged beyond repair. 
I have grafted a couple of other Cortland trees 
that are coming along. I can't resist, the Cortlands ARE so good. 
 
As Derry mentions, the flowers are on 
short branches growing all along the main branches and the 
tendancy in pruning would be to remove some if there are too many but not 
to shortened them (which would cause those branches to grow instead of producing 
fruits). 
If you prune the tree a lot maybe you are keeping 
it growing branches instead of producing fruits. Have you tried weighing 
down branches (like suckers if they are not completely vertical) instead of 
cutting them? This speeds the tree to set flowers and slows down the growth. 
Sometime, I even attach branches (curled downward towards the trunk) for a 
season.  
Here, Cortland is growing commercially, along with 
MacIntosh, and chemicals are being used. It is challenging to grow this 
apple without chemicals especially in a warm climate. 
In my cold climate, Cortland 
are generally picked second week of September. It is not an early apple 
like Melba or YT.  
Good luck, 
Hélène, zone 3. 
----- Original Message -----  
 
 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.  |