How Long Does the Fuji Apple Bare Root Tree Grow Fruit?

Bare Root Tree Basics

• Unlike container-grown trees that average 2 to 3 years old, bare root trees are usually about 1 year old and remain dormant until planting. To encourage healthy fruiting, plant your bare root Fuji in early spring on a cloudy day. Soak the exposed root system in water for approximately 30 minutes before planting and keep them moist afterward with a spray bottle until you can firmly plant them in soil. This moisture breaks dormancy and allows the tree to grow normally once in the ground. Maintain moist, but well-drained, soil conditions to fully establish your tree. Although bare root trees are younger than container types, successful fruiting depends on proper planting rather than overall age.

Semi-Dwarf and Dwarf Varieties

• Growers control Fuji apple tree height and disease resistance through grafting. For example, a scion, or trunk and stem portion, attaches to a specific rootstock to create a dwarf or semi-dwarf tree. Growing to an approximate 10 foot height, dwarf trees produce fruit after three years of establishment. However, they may only live and fruit for 15 to 20 years. In contrast, semi-dwarf trees, growing to 20 feet tall, live between 25 and 30 years, but produce fruits after five years of establishment. Roots must have firm anchorage in the ground before any Fuji fruits can be supported, especially on larger specimens.

Standard Size Fujis

• Standard Fuji trees take longer to fruit, usually seven years after establishment. However, they also live up to 45 or 50 years old. Overall, standard trees fruit longer and with higher yields because of their 25-to 30-foot tall height and spread. One major drawback to standard tree size is harvesting access. You need a ladder to remove fruits each year to prevent loss as they strike the ground. Semi-dwarf and dwarf trees have reduced yields, but offer easier access to limbs.

Environmental Factors

• Fruit yields vary through the years, especially if weather is not conducive to pollinator activity. For example, rainy and cold spring conditions hinders bee activity, causing flowers to remain unfertilized. Bees must transfer pollen grains between trees to successfully pollinate and set fruit in Fuji varieties; they are not self-pollinating trees. Plant another apple tree cultivar nearby to ensure that your Fuji has ample pollen for yearly fruit set. Without pollinator activity and proper pollen types, your Fuji tree cannot grow fruit steadily over the years.