Mistletoe on Bramley Apple tree 2014

Does it interfere with the tree's fruiting Amy?

Lucky you, its doing great :-)

No Carole it still has plenty of Bramley apples , I'm not sure if it will ever have berries Kathy ,we can live in hope if not I'll never have that kiss at christmas :o(

Wow Amy, that is amazing, so big now. You must be so pleased to have so many bunches. I'm sure you'll get berries one day.

Really interesting Amy and Dawn. I must have a go if I can get hold of some mistletoe in the market next Christmas. I wonder how long it is before there is a result and noticeable growth? I have 10 dwarf apples and some are quite hunky. I'm sure one or two they could tolerate a guest in residence!

Hello Dorjac. It was Amy that put me onto the mistletoe growing. I'm not certain if the mistletoe you buy on the market would work, may be treated. I sent off for my berries and they came with a booklet. Takes about a year I seem to remember before you know if they have taken.

Dawns right about not buying from the market Dorjac as it mainly comes from abroad , it's best to have good English mistletoe unless of course they can tell you otherwise also you need to keep the berried twig alive until approx March when you will see the green shoot starting inside the white outer berry ,very carefully remove the white berry coat and then place it on the underside of a branch on your tree ,It's a good idea to place a piece of chicken wire or something similiar over it as the birds do peck at the new growth ...Good luck

I think there might be some at our farmers market near Christmas Amy. I will keep an eye open and ask about sources, if I see any on sale. I suppose if travels through a birds gut before it lands on a suitable tree. Then it is nourished and assisted by this process. You really have green fingers, if successful to get mistletoe to 'take'. I see mistletoe high up in tall trees on the way to Hyde Hall Gardens RHS or Maldon our pretty little riverside resort.

let us know how you get on Dorjac , when I put my seed on the trees I made a tiny slit to hold it in place but I've since been told that it's not necessary as the sticky substance round the seed will hold it in place ,logical really when you think how the birds deposit it ,, Good luck !

Hello, I didnt make a slit, remember I sent off for my berries Amy - the booklet said just to squeeze the sticky stuff containing the berries onto the branch. Some say the birds get it on the branches as they are wiping the sticky stuff off their beaks. I think I had 6 berries but only have one going. That's fine though.

Your way is right Dawn mine was pot luck from listening to a man who had some in his garden many years ago , to get one berry is better than none you never know another might pop up at a later date they are strange plants :o)

Wonderful, lets hope you have some berries in time for Christmas...