Important Facts on Cultivating Apple Trees
The humble apple tree, a highlight of autumn gardens, is a delight for home growers seeking to cultivate their own fruit. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, there's a wide variety of apple trees suitable for home gardening.
For those who prioritize flavour over high yield, the Cox’s Orange Pippin is a must-try. Known for its rich and complex flavour, this partially self-fertile tree is suitable for zones 5–9 and is available in dwarf options.
If space is limited, consider the Garden Delicious (Dwarf), ideal for patios or balconies. It stays under 10 feet tall and reliably produces sweet, juicy fruit on its own, making it suitable for beginner gardeners.
For those seeking something exotic, the Ebony Apple offers a glossy deep purple-black fruit with a sweet and tart taste. This variety thrives in warm climates with well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight.
Other Pippin varieties, such as St. Edmund’s Pippin, Ribston, and Wyken Pippin, are noteworthy old cultivars favoured by home gardeners for their distinctive flavours and heritage.
When it comes to planting, bare-root apple trees are best. They are fresh and not pot-bound, making them easier to establish. Before planting, soak the roots in water for half an hour. Add mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole for improved root development. Plant the tree at an angle of 45 degrees and secure it to a bamboo cane along the main stem.
Pruning is essential for maintaining the health and productivity of your apple tree. Reduce the height of the leading shoot and side branches by a third. Identify new sideshoots and shorten them by half, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. The aim when pruning is to end up with an open-centred tree.
In winter, pruning established apple trees helps keep them in shape, prevents them from getting too big, and encourages more fruit production. Space horizontal wires at 60cm intervals for supporting apple trees.
Not all gardens can accommodate large apple trees, but balconies can house smaller trees. For instance, the world's heaviest recorded apple, a cross between the varieties 'Crispin' and Fuji', was grown on a smaller farm.
Remember to remove any broken stems or those showing signs of disease, cutting back to just above a bud. On very old trees, remove some fruit spurs so there is a 'full fruit-sized' space between each one and also remove spurs on the undersides of branches where the fruits won't be exposed to sun. Remove any crossing or rubbing branches, cutting them back to where they join a thicker branch.
Apples, as we know them, are believed to have originated in Kazakhstan. The 'Flower of Kent' apple tree, under which Sir Isaac Newton is said to have first developed his theory of gravity, is still alive today and is in the care of the National Trust.
In conclusion, home gardening offers a world of unique apple varieties to explore. Whether you're after flavour, size, or something exotic, there's an apple tree perfect for your garden. Happy planting!
With a broad variety available, the 'Garden Delicious (Dwarf)' is suitable for urban home-and-garden lifestyles due to its compact size that fits well on patios or balconies. For those seeking exotic flavors, the Ebony Apple, thriving in warm climates, offers a glossy deep purple-black fruit in your home-and-garden lifestyle.
