I have a Belle de Boskoop on M26 stock -- grafted in late winter 2019 -- that I transplanted in early July 2020 from a pot to a half-oak barrel. Not an ideal time to transplant, I know, but it I couldn't help it. Last week, second week of August here in the Willamette Valley, I see that the Belle has begun to develop buds and push out flowers. What is this about? Is it reacting to being better cared for, getting the right amount of water, etc? Do I leave the flowers alone or snip them off?
Most importantly for my understanding -- Is this a bad sign for next year, spring 2021?
pstieber,
Yeah, the transfer to a half oak barrel from a pot (into probably nice, fresh soil) would probably have been quite a jolt. I suspect that you watered-in the transplant well in order to avoid transplant shock. Keep the tree well watered and fertilize appropriately and it should be able to adjust. I doubt that there are any other apples blooming right now, so your flowers won't get pollinated and thus waste energy trying to form fruits. On the "down side" there's a possibility that because the tree flowered late this year, it may not have time before dormancy to establish new, dormant flowering buds for next year. If it doesn't flower next year, don't fret. Again, keep it well-watered and give it the fertility that it needs and it should do great in 2022. This autumn and winter, I'm sure that its "toes" will love working their way into all that new soil.
'Belle de Boskoop' is one of my (many) favorites. Good Luck! 
Reinettes
@Reinettes -- So thankful for the heads-up about the chance, even if remote, about the tree breaking dormancy and perhaps not flowering in spring 2021. (I'm new to grafting and keeping apple trees.) I'll keep my eye on it. Re: the Belle, I can't believe what a great apple it is. It doesn't seem to mind our wet winters; I wish I had space for an entire orchard of these trees. I've maxed out at 3 here on my urban property.
pstieber,
I'll just mention the reason for my previous post. A couple of years ago, I had 2 grafts of a "full bitter" cider apple. Although both were the same clone, one of the two seemed to want to grow as a dwarf despite whatever I did. The "dwarf" flowered a couple of years ago,... but in September! Needless to say all other apples were long past flowering, so the flowers obviously wouldn't get pollinated.
Last year: no flowers.
This year, even though the plant still appears to want to be a dwarf, it flowered nicely and at the proper time of year for it. I was able to make 3 different crosses onto its flowers in order to breed for cider apples. Despite the plant's diminutive state, the apples that it's producing are looking good and comparable to any other apple.
It's a late-blooming and late-maturing French cider cultivar, but all signs are that I'll be able to harvest some nice, viable seeds for future research.
Whether or not your apple blooms next year, always hold out hope for a better tomorrow!
Reinettes
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