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| Choosing
the right apple |
| Choosing which apple to grow depends
entirely on where it will be planted. Large gardens means you can
choose a variety that will grow very tall and have lots of produce.
Maintenance on large trees is quite big though and pruning will involve
the use of ladders. For pots, containers etc dwarf varieties are the best
option. They will still give you a harvest albeit not as large as a fully
grown tree, but you will be able to place more varieties next to each
other. Pots containing apple trees are extremely decorative too and will
brighten up a patio area. |
| Rootstocks |
| Once you have decided where your tree will go
you need to pick a rootstock that suits where you have chosen. Apple trees
rarely grow from seed they need to be grown from rootstock. Your local
nursery or stockist will be able to guide you with choosing a rootstock.
Below is a general rule: |
| M27 |
very dwarfing |
1.5m -
1.8m |
| M9 |
dwarfing |
1.8m -
2.7m |
| M7
& M26 |
semi dwarfing |
2.4m -
3.6m |
| M4
& MM106 |
semi vigorous |
4m -
4.5m |
| MM104
& M2 & MM111 & MM109 & M1 |
vigorous |
4.5m -
6m |
| Pollination |
| If you have decided to buy
just one tree ensure
it is a self fertile one like Queen Cox. |
| When growing
more than one apple tree there is much more variety as these need to
be pollinated. Apple trees cross pollinate with other apple
trees that flower at the same time so if you are buying more than one
ensure they are compatible. For example grow 'Discovery' with 'Fiesta' as
they both flower at the same time (Pollination Group B). |
| Planting |
| Planting is best done between late autumn
and early spring approx November to March. If you are putting your tree in
the garden you must prepare the soil. Whilst preparing your soil the roots
of your tree need to be wrapped in damp straw or cloth and not allowed to
dry out. The soil must not be waterlogged simply moist. Dig a trench that
is deep enough to keep the roots frost free and work in manure or compost
ensuring no large bits are left. Remove all perennial weeds as once the
tree is established they will be harder to remove. Drainage is key to
growing fruit trees as they do not like waterlogged soil. If your soil is
not free draining it may be necessary to add sharp sand. Plant your tree
to the same depth as the pot it came in. When planting in the garden it is
necessary to stake the plant and it is easier to do this before you put
the tree in. Push the stake into the soil so that the top is below the
branches of the tree. Tie it to the tree with a layer of foam in between
to stop friction. |
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| When planting apple trees in pots care is
also needed with the soil. The container needs to have a hole at the base,
it needs to be approx 30cm in diameter, and it needs to be plastic to
prevent damage. Plant in winter using soil based compost. Hold the tree
upright and put the compost around the roots firming as you go. Ensure the
join of the rootstock and the top growth is above the level of compost in
the pot otherwise the top growth may root and grow vigorously. Add a
fertiliser such as potassium rich tomato liquid feed and water well. Apple
trees like sunny sheltered spots out of the wind. If they are placed in a
corner they will require turning and will need constant watering
especially during the growing season when they may need it twice a day.
During the winter months they will need watering less but do not allow
them to dry out completely. Add fertiliser weekly or add controlled
release tablets in the compost from mid spring to late summer. Pots will
need a new layer of compost annually and the trees will need to be
repotted every couple of years. Do not allow your trees to become pot
bound, take away any loose material and cut away any thick roots. |
| Pruning |
| Apple trees fall into three separate
categories, spur bearers, tip bearers and partial tip bearers. To prune
your tree correctly to enhance harvest and maintain health it is crucial
you know which cultivar your tree is. The tree should have a code on the
label stating which cultivar it is, if not it is fairly easy to
distinguish between them. Spur bearers look compact and tidy and they
produce fruit buds on two year old wood. Tip bearers produce fruit buds on
the tips of the previous years' shoots. They have an untidy appearance as
their branches are bare. Partial tip bearers produce fruit buds on the
tips of the previous years' shoots and also have spurs. Growth buds are
much smaller than fruit buds and can easily be noticed as different. Tip
bearers must have their shoots cut back in spring to allow more fruit to
be produced. Large trees are pruned in winter, trained trees are pruned in
late summer. |
| Harvesting
your apples |
| Ensure to thin out the crop to stop the
tree from getting overloaded and heavy. Leaving the crop on the tree may
make the tree not produce any the following year. When harvesting the
apples take care not to bruise them as this will lead to rot. Store the
apples in a cool, dark, slightly humid area such as in a bag in the
garage. Ensure the bag has holes for ventilation. You can also freeze the
apples for prolonged use. |
| Pests &
Diseases |
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|
Aphids |
| Crooked leaves and
shoots. Biological control such as ladybirds or for over
infestation winter wash. |
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Apple
Canker |
| Dead leafless
twigs, distorted, sunken areas of bark. Prune back harshly and
apply canker paint or use fungicidal sprays. |
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Apple
Sawfly |
| Ribbon
scarred, misshapen fruit. Examine fallen and young fruit for larvae holes and destroy immediately to
prevent spreading or spray with bifenthrin a
week after the flowers have fallen. |
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Bitter
Pit |
| Darkened,
sunken areas on
fruit. Prevent this
calcium deficiency by watering thoroughly during dry periods and using
controlled release fertilisers so as not to overload the tree with too
much nitrogen, potassium and magnesium. |
|
Brown
Rot |
| Browning of
the fruit. Remove all
affected fruit, prune back affected areas, do not compost however. Some
varieties have shown resistance to this disease. |
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Codling
Moth |
| Maggots
present in apple. Pathogenic nematodes
applied in Sep - Oct or spray with bifenthrin third week in June. Use
a codling moth trap. |
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Powdery
Mildew |
| Coating on
leaves and shoots Prune and water correctly or use
fungicides. |
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Scab |
| Velvety dark green
patches on leaves. Clear up and compost all fallen
leaves and prune infected shoots in winter or use mancozeb (Bio Dithane
945), |
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Winter
Moth |
| leaf
holes Intercept females using a
prepared trunk band from your local garden centre or spray with bifenthrin. |
|
Woolly Aphid |
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Fungus like areas on the bark. Rub off with soapy water
or a forceful stream of water or use organic spray Azadiractin. |
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| More
apple trees available online from......... |
| Crocus
- Dobies -
Gardening Direct
- Gardening Express
- Greenfingers
- Planfor
Plants
- Suttons
- Thompson
& Morgan -
Unwins. |
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