Apples

ripe apples on tree
ripe apples on tree

Introduction

Finding space for an apple tree, whether at home or at the allotment, can reward a gardener with a bumper crop of fruit. Apples are ideally suited to the British climate as they flower relatively late in the spring, helping to protect their delicate blossom from frost. Apples can be tucked into a corner of a garden, or grown along a fence on a cordon.

Apple trees are divided into two main types: sweet eating apples, sometimes called dessert apples, that are grown to be eaten straight from the tree; and cooking varieties used in hot desserts, with a texture that softens into a mash like consistency during cooking.

Planting

  • Planting depth: cover root ball
  • Planting spacing: depends on root stock (see notes below)

Harvesting

  • Enjoy fresh, allow the apples to fully ripen on the tree
  • Store in layers in boxes, in a cool (not cold) environment
Sow
(inside)
Sow
(outside)
Harvest
(fresh)
Harvest
(stored)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
= jar, = freeze, = store

Varieties

Apples trees can be divided into two main types:

  • Eating apples (sweet)
  • Cooking apples (sharp to taste – but break apart with soft flesh after cooking)

There are some varieties of apple that are recommended for both eating and cooking. In general, early fruiting apples do not store as well as late season apples (store in a cardboard box in a cool environment with paper separating the layers of apples).

There are also crab apples, which are trees that grow small sour tasting apples and often have very attractive blossom in the spring. Crab apple blossom is great to attract bees, and the hardy fruit is loved by birds over the winter months. Crab apples are grown for their ornamental qualities (blossom, leaves, colourful apples), but despite the fruit being bitter when fresh, they can be cooked to create crab apple jelly.

From a grower’s perspective, the advantage of growing a crab apple tree is that they are excellent pollinators for other apples. Cross pollination is helpful, even for trees that are described as self pollinators, as it can increase the harvest size of all trees.

Apple trees blossom at different times, and to be sure of pollination, choose apple trees that are in blossom at the same time. Individual varieties of apple trees have different requirements for pollination, some are self fertile and others require two different types of tree to pollinate them. There are some varieties of apple trees that have little pollen, which means they are not good pollinators for any tree.

However, most likely if you live in a populated area, there will be plenty of apple trees around to cross pollinate your apple tree, as bees travel great distances to find pollen. If you live in a remote area, you may need to pay attention to flowering times and the best cross pollination varieties. Tree stockists will be able to provide further information.

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Growing

The root stock of an apple tree determines its size when fully grown. Each variety of apple tree can come in a variety of root stock sizes. It is best to choose a root stock to suit your growing space. From an allotment perspective, too big a tree will block light and take water from other nearby plants. Below is a brief overview of the different apple root stocks available:

  • M27 – dwarfing 1.5m tall
  • M9 – 2.5m
  • M26 – 3m
  • MM106- 4m
  • MM111 – 4.5m +

Check with your apple stockist both the pollination group of the apple tree and its root stock before purchasing. If you are planting an apple tree at an allotment, pollination is likely to be less of a problem as there should be many apple trees nearby. Planting at home may need more consideration, especially for homes in remote locations.

Before planting an apple tree, create a big hole and mix into the earth a good amount of compost. Well rotted manure is not advisable for apple trees as it can burn the tree’s roots.

A tree stake is a good investment to make. The dense canopy of an apple tree, and the weight of the apples, can mean that an unstaked tree develops a permanent lean away from the direction of the prevailing wind.

Apple trees are best planted when dormant during the winter months, or in early spring. The soft ground of winter is ideal for digging a hole and for driving in a support stake. Planting at this time allows the roots of the tree to become established before the tree blossoms and develops its leaf mass.

Apple trees need to be pruned in winter to cut out dead and diseased wood. Pruning is an opportunity to help train the tree to grow into a healthy shape, removing overlapping branches, and branches growing downwards or horizontally. An upright habit should be encouraged, as these branches will be better able to support the weight of apples without sagging towards the ground.

When shaping your tree it is worth keeping in mind the importance of older wood, as apples are produced on branches more than two years old.

A young tree needs regular watering in the first summer or two. A good soaking once a week may be necessary in hot weather, and this is better than a little water frequently, as it will encourage the roots to search deep for water. Try to keep a 1 metre perimeter weed free around the base of the tree, and apply a mulch at the beginning of spring. Both will help prevent the young tree from drying out.

If you aspire to big apples you may want to thin out young apples in midsummer. A good time to do this is in July or August after the tree has naturally dropped some fruit.

An apple harvest will take place from the autumn, with the exact timing dependent upon the variety of the apple tree. It is possible to tell whether an apple is ready for picking by giving it a gentle twist – if it comes off it is ripe. Those on the sunny side of the tree will ripen first.

Apples should be stored with the stalks on. A good way of storing them is to arrange them in rows in a cardboard box. The apples can be wrapped individually in paper, or separated by paper between the rows. It is advisable to only store the best of the harvest. Apples should be kept in a cool, but not cold location, and will remain good for many months.

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