Apple Trees
Apple trees have been grown in gardens and orchards throughout Britain for many years and along with many old favourites, there are some exciting new trees on offer. Nowadays, no matter how small your garden is you are almost certainly able to grow apples. Some apples are perfect in
containers, trained against boundary lines or as small trees within the garden. Apples are a must have in the garden.
How to grow
Apples are easy to grow plants that are rewarding when afforded the right care. The trees you are buying have had a great start in life and are now ready to be placed in your garden where you can enjoy their wonderful fruits. When you receive your plants ensure that they are watered and if you are unable to plant immediately you should ensure that they are kept in an appropriate space, preferably cool and out of direct sunlight.
Position
Apples enjoy a position in sun and when planting young trees it is always advised that you allow some protection from hard winds, this will help to get your trees off to the best start possible. Planting trees against a wall or in an area that has a degree of protection from the wind (e.g. near a hedge or structure) can help in the early stages of growth.
Soil
Apples can be grown on a wide range of soils. I deally soil should be fertile, well drained and moisture retentive as this will help support good growth and fruiting. When planting your new tree add plenty of organic matter to the surrounding soil, well-roted garden compost or
multi-purpose compost will suffice. A mulch of well rotted manure around plants will add nutrients, suppress weeds and reduce water loss.
Care
Regular watering is essential, especially when fruits are forming. Installing an
irrigation system will make this task simpler and reduce demands on your time. It is important to fertilise apple trees lightly as too fertile a soil will result in a lot of leafy growth at the expense of fruit growth. It is best to fertilise later in the season after fruiting with a general
feriliser. Maintain a watch for pests and diseases and act accordingly. A full list of
pest control measures and other remedies are available.
Harvesting
Harvest fruit when plump by holding the apple in your hand and twisting the fruit from the tree. If ripe the fruit will break from the tree with no need for force. If you intend to store your apples for a period of time ensure fruits are not damp as this may cause molds to develop. An
apple rack is an ideal way of storing apples.
Top Tip
When apples begin to form on the tree early in the season thin them out by removing some small apples. This will ensure that you grow good sized eating apples that are full of flavour.