How to grow apples
All you need to know about growing apples, with advice on planting and harvesting, in this practical Grow Guide.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| Plant | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||
| Harvest | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Apple trees make a valuable addition to the garden. Their blossom is a feast for the eyes in spring and their fruits taste delicious in autumn. Apple trees can act as a focal point and provide structure to the garden. They also provide a variety of different habitats for wildlife, such as bees, birds and moths.
How to grow apples
Apple trees come in all shapes and sizes and are suitable for all sizes of garden, thanks to dwarfing rootstocks. These dwarf fruit trees remain compact for their whole lives and can even be grown in pots. Grow apples in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Prune in summer and/or winter, depending on the shape of your tree, and harvest the apples when they're ripe.
It is possible to grow apples from seed, but they won't be the same species as the apple you took them from and are more than likely to produce inedible fruit. It will also take around 10 years for your apple tree to produce fruit, so that's a big investment for something that may produce tasteless apples. However, you might end up with delicious apples. leading to a brand new apple variety being named. So if you want to grow apple seeds and you have the space and time to do so, don't let us stop you.
Which apple rootstock?
Named apple varieties are grown on rootstocks that control their vigour and ultimate size. So, as well as choosing a tasty apple, also select a suitable rootstock for your space. They are: M27 very dwarfing; M9 and M26 dwarfing; MM106 semi-dwarf; and MM111 vigorous.
More on growing apples:
When to plant apple trees
Winter is the best time to plant bare-rooted apple trees. These are cheaper than container-grown ones and are available in a wider range of varieties from fruit nurseries, from October to March. Trees grow to different heights, depending on the rootstock.
You can plant pot-grown apple trees all year round but bear in mind that conditions are typically drier in summer, so you'll have to water them more regularly to settle them in.
How to plant apple trees
When planting apple trees, choose a site in full sun, making sure that there will be room for the branches to develop. Don’t worry if you have a small garden – apple trees can also be trained and pruned as fans, cordons and espaliers to be grown against a suitable wall, fences or trellis.
Prepare the soil before planting and apple tree. Then dig a square hole, hammer in a tree stake and position the tree. Hold the tree while you fill in around it with soil.
Check that the 'graft point' – a bulge on the stem where the rootstock was grafted on – sits just above soil level. Firm down the soil around the roots to get rid of any air pockets and secure the stem to the stake. Keep the tree well watered through the year.
How to care for your apple tree
If well maintained and fed, an apple tree will mature and crop for decades.
Once a year in late winter, apply a balanced fertiliser, such as pelleted chicken manure, around the base of the tree. Encourage good flowering and fruit formation by applying sulphate of potash fertiliser. Each spring, spread a mulch of garden compost under the tree to condition the soil, hold in moisture and suppress weeds.
Summer pruning helps transform leafy shoots into fruiting ones. Prune back shoots over 20cm long to three leaves. Cut back any side shoots from these to one leaf. Thin out congested fruits to one every 10cm, removing any damaged ones. Winter prune by removing congested, crossing or badly placed stems to create an open framework that lets light and air into the middle of the tree.
How to harvest apples
Some apples start ripening in August, but most are ready in September and October. Pick them as they ripen to avoid fruits falling and being damaged. Cup them in your hand and lift. If the apple doesn’t pull away gently, leave it for another week.
In this video clip from Gardeners' World, Monty Don shows you how to pick apples from tall trees, so you get perfect, undamaged fruits that will store well:
Growing apples: preparation and uses
Looking for inspiration on how to use your crop? Our friends at olive have curated a delicious collection of apple recipes, including an impressive tarte tatin.
Here, Monty Don takes you through the easy process of making apple juice using an apple press:
How to store apples
Late-cropping apples tend to keep better than early ones. Store only undamaged fruits in clear poly bags (make a few pinholes) in the fridge or in a cool, frost-free place. They should keep for some months. Check regularly and discard any with signs of damage.
In this video, Monty Don shows you how to store apples, explaining which fruits will store well, where to put them so they don't deteriorate or rot, and how long they will keep:
Growing apples: problem solving
Wrap a grease band around the trunk in autumn to catch winter moths. The grease also stops ants in their tracks – ants cultivate colonies of aphids to harvest their sweet sticky honeydew. Hang pheromone traps in the trees in May to catch codling moth.
White fluff on shoots is woolly aphid. Scrub it off, or prune out badly affected areas.
In this video clip from Gardeners' World, Monty Don prunes out ragged wounds on his apple tree, after a couple of branches snapped under the weight of fruit. Watch, as he explains how to prune out the damaged areas and leave clean wounds that should heal over naturally and resist rotting:
Apple varieties to grow
For good crops, grow two or more apple trees near each other that flower at similar times so they cross-pollinate.
- ‘Arthur Turner’ – an early maturing cooker with yellow skin and a lovely sharp tang
- ‘Benenden Early’ – a large dessert, ready from August to September
- ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ – the classic cooker, green with a red blush. It stores well
- ‘Egremont Russet’ – popular for its distinct flavour. Late ripening, it will keep until Christmas
- ‘Ellison’s Orange’ – aromatic flavour, best eaten fresh in September/October
- ‘James Grieve’ – dessert/cooker, giving heavy crops of juicy, red-flushed fruit
- ‘Spartan’ – crisp, delicious and juicy, with red skin and pure white fresh
Frequently asked questions
Can I take hardwood apple tree cuttings?
The apple trees you buy are grafted onto a rootstock because apples rarely come true from seed and cuttings can be difficult to root. The best way to propagate apple trees is to graft a cutting onto a rootstock which also enables you to control the vigour of the tree. Apple tree grafting methods include whip-and-tongue grafting (in late winter to early spring) and chip budding (in mid-summer to early autumn).
Can I move a young apple tree in spring?
You can move a young apple tree towards the end of winter or at the beginning of spring while the tree is still dormant and before bud break. Young trees are more likely to transplant successfully than mature specimens.
Can you get apple tree cuttings to root by putting them in water?
Apple tree cuttings are more likely to root when planted in a moist growing medium rather than placed in water. However, apple trees are usually propagated by grafting cuttings. Rooting cuttings is a technique best used for fruit bushes such as currants.
How can I save a very large fallen apple tree?
If your apple tree still has roots in the ground, it might be worth trying to save it, providing it is not in the way. Cover any exposed roots with soil and cut back damaged branches, ensuring the tree is safe and will not fall on anyone. With luck, your apple tree will continue to thrive in its new position.
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