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Bungala Ridge Permaculture Gardens REDUCE ... REUSE ... RECYCLE ... REPAIR ... RETURN ... REVEGETATE ... REPLENISH |
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Growing Apple Trees in Our Garden Apples are the fruit of a tree of the genus Malus, which is a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae), and have been cultivated throughout recorded history. The wild ancestor of the apple was probably a tree still found in Kazakhstan, Malus sieversii (which has no common name). Pollination All apple varieties can't pollinate themselves, which means that to maximise fruit production apple trees of compatible pollinators need to be planted for cross-pollination to occur. s with a suitable pollinizer variety. These need to have overlapping bloom dates, so that both varieties bloom at the same time. Since the pollen from apple blossoms is transferred primarily by bees it should go without saying that you shouldn't use pesticides when bees are about in the garden. Planting Apple trees are best planted in early winter when dormant. They are relatively indifferent to soil conditions and will grow in a wide range of pH values and fertility levels. They do require some protection from the wind and should not be planted in low areas that are prone to late spring frosts. Don't plant them against walls or hedgerows where pockets of very cold air accumulate. They also don't like water-logged or potentially water-logged soil, so pick a well draining position. Determine the nutrient status of your soil by taking a soil sample prior to planting and each year thereafter at the same time of year. Plant in full sun where the trees will not be shaded from large trees or buildings. It's important to protect the trees from damage by browsing animals. Keep the ground near the tree clear of grass to a radius of at least 1 metre, as grass competes with young trees for available water and nutrients and can significantly reduce tree growth and productivity. When planting the tree drop some compost into the hole, or scrape us some soil from under healthy apple trees to supply essential soil biota needed for continuing health. Work compost into the soil to a depth of 400mm where the tree will root, not just the planting hole. Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils as long as water and nutrients are not limiting and soil pH is adequate (in the range of 6 to 7). The hole needs to be twice the size of the root ball and 600mm deep. Place some of the loose soil back into the hole to form a small mound and arrange the roots evenly over this mound. Back fill. Don't add fertiliser in the hole as the roots can easily 'burn'. The graft union must be at least 50mm above the soil line so that roots do not emerge from the scion.Press soil gently to remove air pockets and water. Peter Cundall, from the ABC Gardening program, recommends generously applying a mixture of sheep manure and blood and bone in a 10 litre bucket in a circle around the outer root zone of the tree. This encourages the new roots to extend outwards to reach the fertiliser, which will break down and be absorbed by the soil. He says that the roots will seek out the fertiliser and help to establish far reaching roots for a strong stable tree. Pruning Proper training and pruning helps to produce strong frames to support ample yields of high quality fruit. Regular pruning and training will also maximize light penetration to the developing flower buds and fruit. It also allows adequate airflow through the branches minimising mould and pest problems. A central leader tree has one main, upright trunk, called the "leader". Branching begins about 500mm above the soil surface to allow work under the tree. The first year, 3 to 4 branches, collectively called a "scaffold whorl", are selected. The selected branches should be spaced uniformly around the trunk, not directly across from or above one another. Above the first scaffold whorl leave another 500mm to allow light to penetrate the tree. Train the tree upwards in this manner with alternating to the desired maximum tree height. The shape of a properly trained central leader tree is like that of a Christmas tree. As the buds begin to swell, cut the unbranched central leader to 1 metre above the soil surface to encourage new lateral branching. When the new growth is about 100mm long, identify the most upright shoot - this will become the new central leader. Leave it and remove all new shoots growing within 100mm below the cut - this will encourage lateral growth further down the trunk. Branches that form 150-300mm the cut tip are easier to train as productive scaffold limbs. When young train the lateral branches out to a 50-60 degree angle from the trunk to provide a stronger framework for fruit production. You may need to prop the young branches with clothespegs, etc. Improperly trained fruit trees have very upright branch angles, which result in excessive vigor and serious limb breakage under a heavy fruit load. Larger branches can be spread out using short wooden boards with a notch cut in each end for the branch to fit into. Hanging weights on the branch or tying it down with string wrapped loosely around the limb are other methods for spreading the branches. All upright growth from scaffold branches should be either pulled down to a horizontal position or removed when it is 75-100mm long. Winter pruning invigorates the tree. Cut central leader approximately 600mm above the highest scaffold whorl. Remove any dead or diseased wood. As the tree resumes growth in spring continue to train the scaffold branches. Select a new upright shoot to continue the central leader, and remove all new shoots 100mm below it. Select branches to form another whorl of 4 to 5 scaffold branches. Prop all lateral branches out to a 50 to 60 degree angle. Summer pruning will cause apple trees to grow less in that growing season. Remove all undesirable branches directly across from one another on the central leader when they are 100mm long. Select lateral branches that are spaced uniformly around the leader to prevent crowding as the limbs grow in diameter. Cut back lateral branches to length (to fill the space allowed for the tree) you desire during summer, not when the tree is dormant. Thinning Fruit Apple trees often set a heavier crop of fruit than the limbs can withstand. To ensure good fruit size, return bloom for the following year, and to prevent tree breakage, you will need to thin the fruit. Apple blooms in clusters of 5 to 6 blossoms. Thin the apples when they about the size of a 10c piece so that the remaining apples are spaced 100-150mm apart, leaving only one fruit per cluster. This will result in the harvest of higher-quality fruit, and also potentially reduce insect and disease problems, as well as increase the chances for a full crop the next season. Fertilising Optimum fertility exists if lateral, outward growth is between 300 - 450mm per year. A useful rule is to apply 0.5kg of organic fertiliser to each tree the first year, 1kg pounds the second year, and 1.5kg the third year up to a maximum of 3kg for a mature tree. Adjust fertliser rates according to annual shoot growth. Spread below the canopy of the tree in a ring at the leaf drip line - don't get fertiliser within 150mm of the trunk. Weeding & Hygiene Growing apples organically can be achieved quite readily with little loss of fruit through pest or disease damage. Suppress weed growth with mulch. Don't cultivate under apple trees as this will damage the shallow roots. Pull back mulch in autumn leaving a 300mm wide radius of bare earth around the trunk of the tree. Cut out all dead or diseased wood, remove dried apples, and clear leaves and fallen debris away from trees. Disinfect pruning tools before using. The build up of a biologically active soil using organic methods, so that the soil contains worms and other soil microorganisms, aids the decomposition of fallen, diseased leaves and reduce the risk of infection. A main pest in southern parts of Australia is codling moth, and to a lesser extent the light brown apple moth. Tree hygiene is important to reduce the incidence of this pest. Scrape loose bark from the trees to reduce larvae cocoon spinning sites within the tree. Codling moths hatch during September to October, which is when apple trees are flowering. Use pheromone traps when the first flowers begin to open, or in winter wrap cardboard or hessian around the trunk or on the limbs of apple trees - remove these every 4-6 weeks and completely destroy. You can also hang jars half filled with a little red or fortified wine mixed with water in the trees. Mature moths are attracted to the wine and eventually drown. The light brown apple moth larvae spins a web and causes leaves to curl. Control by hand squashing or by spraying with Dipel, a natural bacterial preparation. The two fungal diseases that can attack leaves and fruits are apple scab and powdery mildew. Use organic sprays to control fungus at the first sign of green growth in the springs. Spray with white oil to suffocate scale insects and reduce infestation with mites and aphids once full bloom is over and continue to spray every 10 to 14 days through-out the summer. Powdery mildew also affects apple trees: it shows as a powdery bloom on leaves or can leave webbed, russet patterns on apple skins. Control by pruning infected shoots and leaves and by applying lime sulphur to the tree. This organic preparation can be applied at bud burst when green buds show on the trees up until 10 per cent of the flowers are fully open. Lime sulphur applied at this time will also help control apple scab, a fungal disease that manifests itself as black spots and blotches on leaves and cracked, blackened areas on apple skins. Harvesting The best way to check if the fruit is ripe is to take an apple and bite into it! Store apples in a cold place with high humidity - it's possible to store them in plastic bags or bins. Keep the fruit away from vegetables as the ethylene from the ripening fruit may spoil the vegetables. Store only unbruised, undamaged apples and check regularly for bad apples that may spoil the whole batch. Companion Plants According to Organic News, apple trees can be helped by companion planting. They recommend bird-attracting plants as the birds will eat the grubs that attack the leaves and fruit of the apple tree. Borage and lavender will attract bees for pollination. Daisy species planted nearby attract wasp predators and give them a pollen supply during the winter months. Wormwood (planted in pots to contain vigorous growth) can be placed around the perimeter of the orchard (but not close to the trees) as their aroma distracts and repels pest insects. Nasturtium is a useful groundcovering plant under the tree as it also repels moths and other insects. Other companion plants good for apple trees include: horseradish, wallflowers, chives, horsetail, foxgloves, garlic, onions Plants to Avoid Growing Near Apple Trees: Potatoes Varieties
[part of the information below sourced from http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_fruit_cultivars_apple.htm#PARK] Pink Lady - Planted 2006, near house Cox's Orange Pippin - Planted 2000, moved 2004, moved again summer 2007. Fuji - Planted 2006, near house Golden Delicious - Planted in orchard, 1990 Granny Smith - x 3, Planted in orchard, 1990 Jonathan -Planted in orchard, 1990 Lady Williams - Planted in orchard, 1990 Summer Strawberry - Planted in orchard, 1990
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