Apple trees not blooming at the same time....zone 5b

I am in zone 5b. In April 2009, I planted a HoneyCrisp and a Jonathan apple tree. They both need pollinators and were listed on each tag as a good choice for companion trees. Last year and this year both, the Jonathan already has blooms and the HoneyCrisp barely has leaves. I am not going to get any apples if they continue to bloom at different times, right? So, what do I do now?

Also, someone told me that I should not let the trees produce apples until I had had them for 3 years? Is that true?

Thanks!
Cassie

Cassie,
Chill hour requirements for the Honeycrisp is 800 - 1000. For Jonathan it is 700 - 800. No overlap, but all the charts I have looked at show they will pollinate each other. Go figure. Maybe as they get older and larger there will still be enough flowers on them to pollinate each other. If they continue to bloom at different times and there is no overlap, You will have to get a third apple tree. One whose blooms overlap the Honeycrisp and the Jonathan both. Consult your local Extension Service agent for a list of candidates.

It is usually best to let them get a bit larger. Apple trees don't self thin and branches could snap under the weight of the fruit.

I will have to go look up chill hours since I have no idea what that means! Who knew that there was so much to picking out apple trees! Thanks for the info.

One or two years should be enough for root growth. You arent going to get a bumper crop the third year anyway. I noticed that mine are out of synch the first year of planting but start to line up after that. I would get a third or have someone who can graft put another two varieties on the least desirable one.