Fruit:
Apples
1. When – If planting bare root, plant in early spring as soon as the ground is workable. If planting from a container, preferably plant in spring or fall, so the roots have time to get established.
2. Where – Full sun in well draining soil. Do not plant near other trees to prevent overcrowding.
3. How – Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, and around 1 1/2 times as deep as the root ball. Fill up with organic compost until the hole is only as deep as the root ball. Place your tree in the hole and fill with compost, be sure not to cover too much of the trunk bark with compost, or else it could become infected. If the tree is not planted deep enough, the roots can become exposed and damage the tree.
4. Harvesting – Apples are ready for harvest if you can grasp in your palm and twist and it comes off the tree easily. Depending on your variety, they could be ready to be picked from late Summer all the way to early Winter.
5. Tips – Apples trees like to pollinate with other apple species that bloom at the same time, they are not self pollinating. However, you can purchase apple trees that have multiple varieties grafted on the same plant that can pollinate each other. This is the best method to ensure your tree will be pollinated. If a tree lacks vigor, a 10-10-10 fertilizer will be beneficial. The tree will naturally drop a certain amount of the young fruit. After this drop, inspect each grouping of young apples. Cut off apples in each grouping until each grouping has only 1-2 apples left on it. This will ensure the tree focuses it’s energy into making larger, higher quality apples and not only many small apples. You will be the final judge to decide how many apples to keep on the tree, practice makes perfect.
Type:
Perennial
Time to harvest:
Dwarf apple tree – 2 to 3 year
Standard apple tree – 4 to 8 years
Plant Origin:
Central Asia over 3,500 years ago
How to Cultivate 