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How should you grow new apple plants? How To Grow Apples Preparing Your Site Whilst you could try growing an apple tree from seed it is not advisable to do so, as the results are unlikely to be good, and it is best to buy a young apple tree from a reliable nursery, as lot of fruit trees get virus diseases. You should plant your apple tree in weed free soil, however first of all add some well rotted manure in a few months before planting It is best to plant apple trees from October until March, with early November being the best time, as this gives the apple tree time to settle down and for it's roots to establish themselves before the harshness of winter sets in. Planting An Apple Tree Always place your new apple tree into a bucket of cold water for several hours before you plant it out in the garden, as this will ensure the roots are thoroughly watered. Whilst it is soaking dig a 3ft wide, 8 inch deep hole in the ground, and ensure it is big enough to take all of the. Any damaged roots should be cut off with a sharp knife. Before you plant your apple tree in the ground, drive a wooden stake into the hole to make a support for the tree. You need to do this before planting the apple tree to avoid damaging the roots. Sit your tree next to the stake, and tie the stake to the tree with a cable tie, but leave room for it to grow. As the apple tree grows just cut them off, and tie on a new one. Ensure that the apple tree's roots are spread out when you plant the apple tree in the hole. Once you have planted your apple tree fill the hole in with soil and gently tamp it down until it is firm, but do not tread on it too hard though, as you may damage the roots. Leave the soil slightly raised around the apple tree as it will settle down in the coming weeks. It is highly advisable to prevent damage from wildlife, by placing a wire mesh around the base of your apple tree. Planting the Tree Tree __________ and Preparation - __________ a healthy 1-year-old nursery tree, 4 to 6 feet tall, with a good root system. A small tree with a good root system will transplant better than a large tree. When you get the tree, protect it from injury, drying out, mouse or vole damage, freezing, and overheating. If the roots have dried somewhat, soak them in water for about 24 hours before planting. If you are unable to plant the tree immediately, there are two options: * 1) Wrap the roots in plastic along with moist sawdust or newspaper, and place the tree in a refrigerator or cooler at 40 F. Never store the tree with fruit or vegetables, as ethylene gas from ripening foods can kill young trees. * 2) "Heel-in" the tree. To heel-in a tree, dig a trench and place the tree roots evenly in it, cover the roots with soil, sawdust or peat, and water the tree thoroughly. The tree can be kept for several weeks using this method before permanently planting. Planting the Tree - In North Carolina, trees can be set from late fall to early spring. To plant the apple tree, first dig a hole approximately twice the diameter of the root system and 2 feet deep. Place some of the loose soil back into the hole and loosen the soil on the walls of the planting hole so the roots can easily penetrate the soil. Spread the tree roots on the loose soil, making sure they are not twisted or crowded in the hole. Continue to replace soil around the roots. As you begin to cover the roots, firm the soil to be sure it surrounds the roots and to remove air pockets. Do not add fertilizer at planting time as the roots can be "burned". Fill the remainder of the hole with the loose soil, and press the soil down well. Important: The graft union must be at least 2 inches above the soil line so that roots do not emerge from the scion. When you have finished planting the tree, water well to eliminate air pockets and provide good contact between the roots and the soil. Caring For Your Apple Tree After planting add an inch of well rotted vegetable compost or peat. Apple trees need a lot of care and need to be trained and pruned throughout their life. You will need to be cut back branches at regular intervals, in order to maintain a good crop of apples. Pruning should be done in August, and also in Winter. When To Pick Apples When planting an apple tree in your garden, you must ensure that you purchase a self-fertilising tree, which pollinates itself, otherwise you will wonder why you never get any apples! When it comes to picking apples it is simple, as soon as they start falling off, they are ready to pick. However to maximize your crop then you should pick weaker fruit off as early as possible to encourage the apple tree to grow. |