"Growing Apple Trees at home"

Growing apple trees in the home garden is a lot easier than you may think. When we think of trees we tend to assume they will be huge, overshadowing the house and churning up the foundations of our home with their roots.

If the house is surrounded by oak, chestnut and pine there is definitely cause for concern, but growing fruit trees in the garden doesn't have to be a problem.

These days we can buy designer fruit trees that are easy to plant and maintain and will produce a great harvest of fruit year after year.

Buy stock from reputable dealers. Chat with your local nursery or garden centre, or have a look online...

Crocus in the UK have a number of delicious apple tree varieties you can grow in a small space in your garden.

Click on the link below and type 'Double U Cordon' into the search box on their homepage. They have apples and pears all designed for the smaller garden. There are often special offers at Crocus (UK deliveries)

And in the US Nature Hills also have a choice of delicious apple trees for sale: Click on the link below to take you directly to their apple trees page...

Planting Apple Trees

Choose a young tree if possible, rather than an older and larger one, as they transplant more successfully. Check the planting and after care instructions that come with your tree.

Generally a fruit tree will do best in soil that is well-drained and fairly rich in nutrients. Dig in some well-rotted manure or compost or both before planting.

Dig a hole as deep as the pot the tree came in or the soil mark if not in a pot. Spread the roots out gently and cover with soil. Fill hole with soil and firm in well. Don't add fertilisers or fresh manure at this point as it may burn the roots. Water thoroughly after planting. If a stake is needed, this should be positioned before planting so as not to damage the roots.

Trees should be given a fairly wide growing area but many of the hybrids available like the ones mentioned above will grow and thrive in a fairly small space. They can be grown in rows along the edge of your vegetable plot, or on the light side of a fence or trellis.

Prepare stakes and supports if necessary when planting so you don't have to disturb the tree later.

NB: Is your apple tree self-pollinating? If not, you may have to plant another variety nearby to allow for pollination

Care of your apple trees

Troublesome weeds should be removed from around the trunk of your fruit trees and the soil must never be allowed to become water-logged.

Water the trees regularly. Mulch if you are unable to water for more than a few days during dry spells.

Thin out fruits so only the best grow on each branch and if you have trouble with birds, net the trees as soon as the fruits start to develop.

Fruit trees should be pruned after the last apple has been picked or a little later in the year. Check the growing and care instructions for your particular tree as all varieites will need different treatment.

Again,the variety determines how you harvest your apples. If you grow cider apples, lay a sheet under the tree, send someone up the tree and shake the branches until all apples are felled!

For dessert apples, a little more delicacy is needed!

Pick the apples when they are easy to separate from the branch and try not to bruise as you collect them.

Dessert apples can be stored for some months in the right conditions. Wrap each fruit in paper ( newspaper is okay because the printers don't use leaded inks any more ). Store fruit in cardboard or light wooden trays and stack on top of each other, making sure no weight is placed directly on the fruit.

Store trays in a dark, dry room. Apple skins will eventually become a little wrinkled but the fruits will be edible for some time and are often sweeter than when first harvested.

Consuming Apples

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" with good reason. Apples are a good source of vitamins, iron and fibre and can be easily included in most diets.

Eat them raw either whole or chopped into salads. Cut them into sticks and snack on them with carrot sticks and other wholesome fruits and vegetables.

Treat the family to steaming baked apples on a cold winters day. Cut out the core and fill with sultanas and a little unprocessed sugar. Bake in the oven until soft.

Slice and boil to make a puree or apple sauce. Enjoy hot or cold.

Make pies, tarts and apple pancakes. Look up traditional recipes from old cook books and really make the most of your apple harvest.

NB: Apples and pears are a great combination in the home orchard. Find out more about growing pears on this page...Pears

Happy Gardening!

Grow Your Own Groceries: Producing your own food is not only rewarding but - in times of economic and environmental changes - increasingly a must! Nature provides everything the human body requires to thrive, and cultivating some of those natural products in your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping.

Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you!

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