How about them apples? (Apple tree care)

[JOEPRO]

New apple tree. I planted it last autumn in my back garden. Now has small apples starting to form



I appreciate this is a welding forum. (Yes that's right!!)

But can I ask the collective the following please:

When the tree is young should I trim these apples out a bit now? So instead of circa 2 dozen forming snip 50% of them off to focus its energy.

I intend to eat the apples. I have been using "growmore" commercial tubbed fertiliser. Is that a bad idea and what products should I be using for human consumption? Eg is liquid tomato food safer.

Any other tips for apple trees? I have 2x. This eating apple one and another new bramley apple tree which hasn't any fruit yet.

 

[jimbo84]

Watching with interest having just planted an apple tree, not knowing how to care for it and subsequently being told it’s the wrong time of year to plant one

 

[Kram]

I cant say about pruning to focus to get bigger fruit but be aware of the number and that its a very skinny young branch shown. If they get big, that branch will be bent to the floor or snapped!

 

[JOEPRO]

I found this simple site worth a look at the stages of an apple tree fruit growth

Lifecycle of an Apple, From Bud to Blossom to Fruit | Orchard Notes

Follow the lifecycle of a single apple bud from dormancy to harvest, in this series of 40+ photos.

orchardnotes.com

 

[frank horton]

as with all young fruit tree's u want them to get established......they cant do that when growing large numbers of fruit..
If it was mine I'd remove all fruit except 2, thats just to keep interest in the tree and if ur lucky u may just get a taster.....and those two could just fall ....
If left as is prob 50% will drop anyway.....
As for fert keep it simple and reg.....this tree will take a lifetime to mature there's no mad rush.....
I'd say expect to get a goodish crop in 3-4 years min....
Train the tree starting now.....it will save time and give better results.....
we've just bought a load of Peach, Necterenes n Grapefruit tree's....It breaks ur heart to take all the fruit off early but it will reap dividends soon....

 

[johnik]

some years ago i bought 2 twigs that were future apple trees, seems there are two types (A & B) and there must be one of each for bees to do their thing with, after a couple of years i was giving away apples by the carrier bag, all i ever did was water them and cut the ocational branch down a bit ...enjoy watching them grow

 

[droopsnoot]

I keep meaning to buy an apple tree, so I'm watching this too. As I briefly read it I've left it too late to plant this year, but I'll have a read of the link above for more information.

 

[Smallfry]

Shame my old mate is not still around, passed on last year @96. He tended orchards and grafted trees years ago. Would have told you all you need to know.

What you need is a good old fashioned book on trees and shrubs, that will tell you all the good old tricks. Info that you are unlikely to find on the internet.

 

[DanZac]

Not the best picture, but I planted a Plum, Pear, Cherry, and 3 types of apple tree, all on dwarf rootstock in our front garden 6 or 7 years ago.

I just left them to get on with it for the first few years, but have subsequently had to prune quite hard to allow the postman to get down the path, but they all fruit heavily every year and give us far more fruit than we could ever use, even making jam and drying apples etc.

Fruit trees are well worth growing even if you've only got space for a pot, just make sure they are on a dwarf rootstock so they stay small and contained to the size of your plot.

 

[Cuthy246]

We have been very fortunate buying this house to have a lovely mature apple tree, it really is quite nice and produces a healthy crop

 

[gaz1]

the best id say is keep your tree low whilst getting a good yield per year

heres the search on the subject

Google Search

 

[Turbo]

As has been mentioned there are male and female fruit trees and you need both to get cross pollination.

But there are self pollinating trees out there. We got one last year and there is a decent crop on it this year. Dad is a keen gardener and he didn't prune anything off the tree so it must be ok to let the apples ripen.

 

[brightspark]

my trees about 6 years old and 6 foot high i left it and had loads of apples on it and small ish .a bit krap last year trimmed it well back and the apples were massive and nice .its looking good for this year as well

 

[Beeezer]

My local council held some useless sort of event where they purchased god knows how many saplings for the event then realised they had purchased too many.
So they were giving them away to Joe Public, people in the local town were seen walking about with said trees for days.
I got myself twenty all various fruit trees and planted here, all doing ok.
Wonder how much that cost us……

 

[oldbikedavey]

Top fruit, ie, fruit trees, and the culture thereof, is a seriously complicated business indeed.
Best advice is to get a copy of the Royal Horticultural Society's book ' The Fruit Garden Displayed' .
Not many stones left unturned in there...

 

[8ob]

Ideal apple tree in form would vary depending on what’s expected of it. As a feature tree give it space, for its fruit train it along a trellis or manage its height. Grease bands around the base will help control moths/caterpillars , lightweight netting/gauze will also help keep the birds/bugs off.

Bob

 

[redlig]

My local council held some useless sort of event where they purchased god knows how many saplings for the event then realised they had purchased too many.
So they were giving them away to Joe Public, people in the local town were seen walking about with said trees for days.
I got myself twenty all various fruit trees and planted here, all doing ok.
Wonder how much that cost us……

Ref cost us ?...... Just look at next years council tax increase.

 

[RonMig]

Birds and wasps test all ours to destruction every year long before they're ready for picking

 

[sardine]

We have an abandoned orchard next to where we live, this whopping cooking apple tree, damsons , pears eating apples and greengages.

Unfortunately ive got type 2 now so all the jam making and apple crumbles are over for me. It will all go to waste, people think you are mental picking fruit off a tree , fruit comes from Tesco in a plastic tray .

 

[ajlelectronics]

, people think you are mental picking fruit off a tree , fruit comes from Tesco in a plastic tray .

Same with 'indoors. Gardens are for flowers, veg comes from supermarkets.