Step by step guide to growing your own apples
Prepare your site
It is best to buy young apple trees from a reliable nursery, as most fruit trees are prone to serious virus diseases. Plant your apple tree in soil that has been cleared of perennial weeds. If the soil has been neglected in the past, add some well rotted manure during the summer prior to planting.
When to plant apple trees
It is advisable to plant fruit trees from October through to March, but the best time to do it is probably in early November, as this gives the tree time to settle down and for it's roots to establish themselves before the harshness of winter sets in.
How to plant an apple tree
Always pop your new apple tree into a bucket of water for a few hours before you plant it out, this gives it's roots a good drink. Dig a 3ft wide, 8 inch deep hole in the prepared site, making sure that the hole is large enough to accommodate all of the roots when they are spread out. If you notice any damaged roots, cut them off with a clean sharp knife as this encourages new surface roots to grow. Before you plant your new apple tree in the hole, a wooden stake should be driven into the hole to act as a support for the tree. Don't do this after you have planted as you may well damage the root system. Place your tree next to the stake and fasten the stake to the tree with a plastic tie, leaving enough room for the stem to grow. Ties can be cut off and replaced if they become too tight. Make sure that the apple tree's roots are well spread out in the hole to encourage all round growth. If your tree has several layers of roots, cover the lower ones with soil and gently tread on it, lay the next layer of roots down and cover these with soil. Continue to do this until all the roots have been buried. Don't tread on the soil too hard though, as this may damage the roots. It is advisable to leave the soil slightly raised around the tree as it will settle over the next few weeks, and it should end up being planted the same height as the rest of the area, and not in a dip. To prevent any damage from wildlife you can protect the tree with a wire mesh sleeve. Immediately after planting you should top dress the soil around the base of the tree by adding at least 1 inch of well rotted vegetable compost or sedge peat.
Routine care of apple trees
Apple trees need to be trained and pruned throughout their life span. To ensure that the plants are healthy, free from disease and that they produce an ample crop, branches need to be cut back at regular intervals. This can be done by using a clean, sharp knife or a pair of secateurs. It may be necessary to use a saw on larger, thicker branches.
Summer pruning is done in August or early September, when all the laterals or side growths are cut back by about a half. Pruning can also be done in Winter.
Pruning neglected apple trees
Appple trees that have been neglected over the years are best pruned in the winter, as you can actually see the shape of the tree without any leaves being in the way. All dead wood should be cut out to its base, and branches that are rubbing together shoud be cut back to before the crossover. Any major branches that grow up through the centre should be cut to it's base. Any low growing branches that droop to the floor should again be cut off to their bases.
When to harvest apples
When planting a single apple tree in your garden, it is important to purchase a self-fertile tree, which pollinates itself, otherwise you will have to grow a mini-orchard. Many apple trees are often referred to as "family trees", which can pollinate themselves due to the fact that 4 different varieties of apples have been grafted onto the root stock. This sort of tree provides itself with perfect inter-pollination, thus ensuring a successfull crop.
Many varieties of apple trees are prone to over-cropping. To prevent the branches from bending over and breaking due to the extra weight, it is advisable to thin out the young fruit using a pair of scissors during June, when the fruits are walnut sized. Dessert apples should be 4 inches apart, whilst eating apples should be 8 inches apart. It is best to remove the centre apple, known as the king fruit, first, and any others which you may think will rub together when they are growing larger. When the apples are ripe, they will start to fall from the branches, and when this starts it is time to pick them.
Storing apples for later use
Those apples that have fell to the floor may be bruised or damaged, and are best used immediately. Perfect apples that have been picked from the tree, without the risk of dmage can be stored in a damp clean shed, where the temperature is about 40 °F. Apples still breathe even after picking, so a dry atmosphere will only make the apples shrivel when they lose their moisture. Once picked, the apples should be left outside in wooden boxes overnight to cool them down and then they should be placed into your shed.
Recommended varieties of apple trees (Malus)
Malus floribunda: The Japanese crab apple is a good fruiting tree with beautiful single, pink blossoms in spring.
Malus hupehensis: A larger apple tree that is covered in glorious white, fragrant blossom every year.
Cox's Orange Pippin: This wonderful dessert apple is difficult to grow, as it is prone to scab and mildew, however, the dull-brown russet coloured fruit, offered from November to January, are reportedly to be the finest apple to begrown.
Bramley's Seedlings: This cooking apple flowers in mid-season and offers the best cooking apples around from November to April. They are prone to scab.
Recipes using apples
Apple Cheese | Apple Chutney | Apple Cider | Apple Crunchie | Apple & Ginger Jam | Apple Jelly | Apple & Plum Butter | Apple Preserve | Apple & Tomato Chutney | Spiced Crab Apples |
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Growing Apple Trees... 
