Apple tree, the joy of biting your own sweet, crunchy apples
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In spring the branches carry blooms ranging from pure white to pink-shaded white; by the end of summer those same branches are weighed down with fruit. The apple tree (Malus communis) gives apples for eating fresh, for pies, sauce and jam — but it wants full sun and, usually, a second tree nearby to pollinate it.
Fall is the best season for planting apple trees, as this lets the tree develop a sufficient root system before the onslaught of winter.
It is also possible to plant the tree anytime from fall to spring, as long as it isn’t done during frost spells; it is also possible during the summer except during heat waves.
When planting in spring and in summer, ensure regular watering.
An apple tree requires sunlight to bloom and produce apples.
It likes well drained soil.
Adding fertilizer such as manure and seaweeds during planting will help the tree to take root.
Water your apple tree regularly for the two first years after planting.
Generally, apple trees are not self-pollinating, meaning that if you wish to have apples, you’ll need to plant at least 2 apple trees.
Fertilization must take place between two distinct trees at least for the flowers to develop into fruits.
If you lack space to plant more than one apple tree, choose a self-pollinating variety such as: ‘Charles Ross’, ‘James Grieve’, ‘Egremont Russet’, ‘Arthur Turner’ or ‘Red Falstaff’.
Note that planting only one variety, even if it is self-pollinating, might produce a smaller harvest than if you plant several varieties together.
Planting, pruning, and caring for an apple tree
In order to coax the tree into producing many beautiful apples, it is important to perform a fruit-inducing pruning before spring growth has started.
Pruning your apple tree should hence take place at the end of winter, when freezing no longer occurs.
Adding special fruit tree fertilizer in spring boosts yields. Add a good-sized handful of fertilizer granules and rake them lightly into the surface of the soil.
It is important to water regularly during the first 2 years after planting.
Apple trees, like most fruit trees, are vulnerable to several common diseases, like fungus.
The most common apple tree diseases are scab and apple rot.
Apple scab
If an onslaught appears at the end of the cycle, when apples are already well-formed, degradation is limited and perhaps only a slight coloration of the apples may be observed. The harvest is not lost, but it is more difficult to keep the apples
However, if scab appears early in the season, it is recommend to treat it in order to stop the spread of the disease. An early onslaught of scab may hinder fruit development and compromise the harvest.
A regular application of fermented stinging nettle tea as soon as buds have formed on the apple tree can prevent scab altogether.
Spraying with Bordeaux mixture also protects against the spread of scab.
There are a number of efficient chemical scab-fighting fungicides, both preventive or curative, but it is best to use them only once scab has already invaded the apple tree.
Do not treat if you are only a few weeks from harvest.
At the end of the season, gather all the leaves and destroy them to avoid letting scab hibernate in your garden over the winter.
Another common ailment of apple trees is European brown rot, where Monilinia fungus strands rot fruits while still on the branch. This fungus can cause extensive damage to the apple tree and it is preferable to prevent it altogether.
Similar treatments to those fighting scab are recommended.
If you observe that leaves of your apple tree become sticky and roll themselves up, you are certainly faced with an onset of either aphids or scale insects.
A collar of sticky glue wrapped around the trunk protects the tree from many insects that would otherwise set up shop in the tree and on its leaves.
Species and varieties of apples
Harvest from early autumn to early winter
‘Red Astrakhan’ – ripens late summer, keeps until mid-autumn. Resists strong cold. Good fruit, average size. Best when eaten at time of harvest.
‘Belle de Boskoop’ – ripens in early winter, keeps until late winter. Vigorous, ideal for cold and damp climates. Huge fruit, a bit tart.
‘Chantecler’ ripens in early autumn and keeps until late autumn
‘Chantecler (Belchard)’ – ripens in early autumn, keeps until late autumn. Smooth flesh, crisp, tart. Blooms late, is well adapted to cold climates.
‘Cox Orange Pippin’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until midwinter. Average caliber, sweet fruit, must be pruned to low, flat shapes since it is a weak variety.
‘Delbarestivale’ – ripens in late summer, keeps until mid-autumn. Big fruit, crisp flesh, slight taste of licorice or aniseed. For semi-free tree shapes.
‘Florina (Querina Florina)’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until late winter. Resists diseases very well. Firm flesh, slightly tart, cultivate in windy locations.
‘Grand Alexander’ – ripens in early autumn, keeps until mid-autumn. Eat quickly, can be pruned to all tree shapes. Pleasant fruit, juicy, crisp.
‘Idared’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until late winter. Keeps very well, smooth flesh, soft, sweet. Quite vulnerable to powdery mildew.
‘King of the Pippins’ – ripens in late autumn, keeps until early winter. Strong and productive. Adapted to all climates, ideal for free-form tree shapes.
‘Royal Gala’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until late winter. Productive and vigorous. Meaty fruit, crisp, excellent.
‘Starkrimson’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until early winter. Productive and hardy. Bears fruit very young. Slightly mealy flesh.
‘White Transparent’ – ripens in late summer, keeps until early autumn. Very good fruit, tangy. Eat quickly, as fruits fall off the tree too easily.
Harvest from early winter to early spring
‘Calville Blanc d’Hiver’ – ripens in late autumn, keeps until late winter. One of the best! Big fruit, vulnerable to scab.
‘Delbard Jubilee’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until late winter. Resists diseases well. Can be shaped to espalier patterns.
‘Gloster’ – ripens in mid-autumn, keeps until early spring. Excellent fruit, vigorous tree. Bears fruit very young. Perfect for pastries.
‘Golden Delicious’ – ripens in early winter, keeps until early spring. Ideal for cold climates. Tasty when grown in a garden.
‘Granny Smith’ – ripens in late autumn, keeps until early spring. One of the tangiest. The best apple for low-cholesterol diets.
‘Jonagold’ – ripens in late autumn, keeps until midwinter. Very vigorous tree, productive. Relatively tender flesh. Quite vulnerable to powdery mildew.
‘Jonathan’ – ripens in late autumn, keeps until midwinter. Big fruit, soft flesh. Bears fruits very young. Adapted to windy locations.
‘Ontario’ – ripens in midwinter, keeps until early spring. Average vigor. Espalier patterns. Melting flesh, delicate.
‘Canadian Reinette’ – ripens in early winter, keeps until late winter. Very fragrant flesh. Appreciates damp climates and high altitudes, up to 3 300 feet (1 000 m).
‘Reinette Clochard’ – ripens in early winter, keeps until early spring. Perfect for west France. Cultivate in semi-free tree shapes. Firm flesh, juicy, tart.
‘Reinette Grise du Canada’ – ripens in early winter, keeps until late winter. Good vigor, tree tends to bear in alternate years. Rather soft flesh, very fragrant.
‘Winter Banana’ – ripens in late autumn, keeps until midwinter. Smells slightly of bananas. Very fertile, good pollinator. Grows well in cordon espalier shapes.
Which apple variety to choose: ripening, keeping and character
The variety you plant decides when you pick, how long the fruit keeps in store and what the flesh tastes like. The table below lines up some of the varieties described above so you can match one to your climate and your kitchen.
Which apple variety to choose: ripening, keeping and character
Variety
Ripens
Keeps until
Character and use
‘White Transparent’
late summer
early autumn
Tangy, very good, but eat quickly as fruits drop easily
‘Royal Gala’
mid-autumn
late winter
Meaty, crisp, excellent; productive and vigorous tree
‘Cox Orange Pippin’
mid-autumn
midwinter
Sweet, average size; weak variety, prune to low flat shapes
‘Florina (Querina Florina)’
mid-autumn
late winter
Firm, slightly tart; very disease resistant, good in wind
‘Gloster’
mid-autumn
early spring
Excellent fruit, bears young, perfect for pastries
‘Granny Smith’
late autumn
early spring
One of the tangiest; best apple for low-cholesterol diets
‘Belle de Boskoop’
early winter
late winter
Huge, slightly tart fruit; vigorous in cold, damp climates
‘Golden Delicious’
early winter
early spring
Tasty grown in a garden; ideal for cold climates
‘Canadian Reinette’
early winter
late winter
Very fragrant flesh; likes damp climates and high altitude
Planting two varieties that flower together also secures pollination and a fuller harvest.
Learn more about apple trees
Late varieties still carry their fruit in winter
Apple trees are often cultivated for the quality of their fruits, but also simply for its very decorative value beginning of spring. Indeed, ornamental apple trees are very trendy in many urban landscapes.
Its beautiful blooms are magnificent, ranging in color from pure white to pink-shaded white.
Towards summer’s end, apples’ rich colors will also enchant your garden and fill your appetite!
In winter, tardy apple tree varieties will display their fruits for all to see.
Caring for them is easy and growing them is something every gardener can do well!
From the end of summer deep into fall, harvest your apples for a natural treat, eat them baked in pies or in applesauce. They’re delicious also prepared in jams.
In order to enhance apple trees’ yields, especially at the beginning, give it organic soil conditioner such as manure and seaweed in fall and in spring.
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
