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Fruit tree cultivation is immensely satisfying. Nothing compares to picking delicious, organic pears, apples, apricots, or cherries straight from the tree. Unfortunately, fruit trees have drawbacks, such as poor production, nutrient deficiencies, and pest and disease issues. And apple trees are notoriously hard to grow.
With decades of excellent harvests, apples are arguably the most popular and easiest tree fruit to grow. Enjoying a luscious, crisp apple directly from your own tree is rewarding. Trees come in various sizes to fit even the smallest garden, and there are numerous types, each with a distinct flavour.
Here is all the information you need to enjoy delicious apples grown at home for many years, whether you're fortunate enough to already have an apple tree or would like to plant one.
Methods For Growing Apple Trees
- Apple trees require loamy soil with a pH of neutral, full sun, and enough room. Consult your local nursery to discover how much clay, sand, silt, and organic matter your soil contains and whether your pH is abnormal or deficient in any nutrients. Instructions on how to fix any imbalances will also be given to you.
- A week before planting, clear any debris or weeds. Correct soil imbalances as needed, but do not over-fertilise, as this can be too intense for young roots.
- Though apple trees can be planted inside from seed, seedlings require 6–10 years to develop to a producing size. Rootstocks or young trees can be obtained at a garden centre or nursery.
- Dig a planting hole twice the width of the root system and about 2 feet deep, ensuring the soil is nice and loose around the edges. Fan the roots across the bottom of the hole, removing air pockets by gently tamping down around each root as you backfill with soil.
- If planting a rootstock, be sure the graft union—a swollen-looking elevated bump—is a minimum of 2 inches above the topsoil. Soak the root ball in a bucket of water for a full day before planting if you are starting a tree from a container that has dried out.
6 Tips For Apple Tree Care
- Water frequently, but avoid soaking. Although they prefer moist, well-drained soil, apples can develop root rot if they receive too much water.
- Young trees require aid in building a solid frame of branches to support larger fruit production later. Employ poles or trellises trained into a central leader system, a pruning method in which a single main trunk is established with supporting branches growing from each side.
- Except for numerous self-pollinating cultivars like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Cortland, apple trees need cross-pollination between cultivars that bloom simultaneously. Ensure your garden has plenty of pollinators by placing fragrant, eye-catching plants nearby.
- Mulching can help with moisture retention and soil temperature, but be sure to remove it in the fall after the harvest to avoid mice from breeding in it throughout the winter and harming the bark.
- While excessive pruning is unnecessary throughout the growing season, you should cut off any dead or broken branches as soon as you notice them. Pruning every year promotes healthy air circulation, which helps prevent infections and hasten the drying out of leaves following rain.
- Apple trees can be threatened by fire blight, apple maggots, codling moths, and fungal diseases like apple scab, even though some types are immune to these pests and illnesses. Companion planting can help repel insects like aphids and mites, and apple maggots can be removed with a hanging sticky trap. Still, certain trees may require yearly pesticide spraying to keep most bacterial illnesses at bay.
How To Harvest Apples?
Apples can be picked from late summer to autumn, depending on the variety. When the apples are the deepest shade of their cultivar colour, pick them. Just twist and pull up; they should come off the stem with minimal resistance. Use softer or overripe apples in the kitchen to make apple butter, applesauce, compotes, and more.
