Stink Bug – very common on apple tree. They will damage plants when they insert their beak-like mouthparts into the fruits, buds or blossoms and suck out the sap. If the stink bug feeds on the apples, the fruit might form sunken areas, scars, or pitting.
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Growing Your Own Apple Tree
April 25, 2023
Did you know? Apples are part of the "dirty dozen", a group of fruits and veggies highly exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides. Because of this, people are now growing their own organic produce to avoid ingesting these pesticides and chemicals. In this article, we will discuss the ins and outs of growing your own apple tree, so that in a few short years you'll have a bountiful harvest of your own!
All about apples
The apple tree is deciduous, which means it will lose its leaves at the end of the growing season, usually in the fall. There are more than 7,500 apple varieties in the world, of these, about 2,500 are grown in the United States. Only 100 of those varieties are sold commercially. In the United States, apples are grown in all 50 states. The top-producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, and Virginia. The apple is a hardy tree, making them easy to grow for backyard beginners. They can withstand most conditions, including extreme cold and wind, however, apple trees need a certain number of hours in the cold to come back again next season (kind of like how we need 8 hours of sleep to be recharged for the next morning). Apple trees can live to be about 100 years old. Apples are a member of the rose family of plants, which also include pears, peaches, cherries, and plums.
These trees are generally produced by grafting or they can be started from seed, however, in most cases, apple trees don't grow true to the original from seeds. For example, a seed from a Red Delicious apple will not produce a genetically same Red Delicious apple tree, and you may have a bum harvest or a good harvest. Seedling apple trees are genetically different and usually inferior to the parent tree. Most apple trees are propagated by grafting. Grafting allows growers to produce trees that are identical (genetically) to one another, and a grafted tree will bear fruit quicker than those grown from seed.
There are several size standards to choose from. Standard apple trees can reach a height of 20 to 30 feet. Semi-dwarf can reach 12 to 15 feet. Dwarf apple trees can grow 6 to 10 feet. Size does matter when it comes to trees. The diameter of the crown will help to determine the spacing between apple trees or other objects. Since the diameter is related to the height, knowing the width of the tree also helps with planning for yards with limited space overhead, such as those with utility lines or for container trees on patios.
The tree begins producing blossoms in the spring, and some varieties of apples are ready to harvest as early as July, while others reach their peak flavor during autumn, ripening in October or November. The peak season for fruit grown in private gardens is just as summer has hit its height and autumn is just around the corner. Summer apples are ready to be picked starting in early August, while autumn apples are ready later in the year, around the beginning of September. Most apples are still picked by hand.
The weather conditions throughout the entire harvest year are the second important variable, with sunny days being crucial as these significantly impact how sweet the apple is.
Interesting fact...Ever wonder why we can bob for apples? Apples will float because they are 25% air.
Spur vs Tip-bearing
Apples trees can be divided into spur-type or tip-bearing types. Spur-bearing trees have more fruit buds per length of branch than do tip-bearing trees; they also tend to be shorter trees, have shorter branches, and they are slower growing.
On spur bearing apple trees, fruit grows on small thorn-like shoots (called spurs), which grow evenly along the main branches. Most spur bearing apples bear fruit in the second or third year. The buds develop in mid-summer to late fall, then the next year it flowers and will bear fruit. Most spur-type bearing apple trees are dense and compact and have an abundance of fruit throughout the tree. Examples are: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Winesap, Macintosh, and Fuji.
Tip-bearing, also called non-spur or terminal bearers, only set fruit on the very tip of longer shoots. The tree itself has a vaguely weeping shape to it with the branches tending to grow downward. Examples are: Granny Smith, Rome Beauty and Cortland. Many older and heirloom varieties are tip-bearers.
Some of the most popular varieties are:
A few more interesting facts...The first American apple orchard was planted around 1625 by William Blackstone on Boston’s Beacon Hill.
One of George Washington’s hobbies was pruning his apple trees.
Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees all over parts of the United States.
Planting Apple Trees at Home
When planting apple trees, there are a few things to consider before you dive in. First, you’ll want to figure out which plant hardiness zone you are located in. Because certain apple varieties ripen later in the year, you’ll want to choose one that coincides with your local weather patterns.
Plant the apple trees within 40 to 50 feet of another apple tree that blooms at the same time to allow for the most cross-pollination. Allow enough room for air circulation and sunlight to reach all parts of the tree. Apples grow best in the full sun, an apple tree planted in partial sun will not bear as much fruit as one planted in full sun. They prefer well-drained soil, with organic matter, such as compost, worm castings or aged manure.
Next, decide on your purpose for growing apples.
Here are some popular reasons why people at home grow their own apples:
- Snacking
- Pies
- Salads
- Sauce
- Juice
- Baking
- Freezing
- Eating fresh
- Cider
Based on what you will be doing with your apples, you’ll want to consider whether you want a sweet apple or a tart apple, based on flavor and texture.
Braeburns – sweet-tart flavor, with a texture that remains firm when it is baked.
Cortland – juicy and slightly tart, terrific baking apple, also excellent for salads and cheese plates.
Fuji – firm, crisp, and juicy, among the most popular for eating fresh, but also great for baking, hold their shape when they cook.
Gala – crisp, sweet apple with a mild flavor. They are among the best for applesauce, salads, eating fresh and cider.
Golden Delicious – sweet, a rich mellow flavor. It is one of the best all-around cooking apples, it will maintain its shape after baking.
Granny Smith – a popular tart apple, crisp and quite sour. A good all-purpose cooking apple and their flavor is enhanced when paired with sweeter, spicier apples in pies.
Honeycrisp – a great eating apple, crisp and juicy with a honey-sweet and tart flavor. Also, good for baking and applesauce.
McIntosh – juicy, crisp, but tend to break down when cooked. Good eating fresh or in a sauce. Best paired with Golden Delicious or other apples in pies or baked goods.
Remember: to harvest fruit from your tree, you’ll need to make sure the flowers are pollinated. Most apple varieties have flowers that contain male and female flower parts and are self-pollinating. However, there are some that require a pollinator. You’ll want to do some preliminary research to see if the apple tree you want to plant is a self-pollinator or not. You may need to plant two or more trees to get fruit.
Common Pests and Diseases in Apple Trees
There are many pests and diseases that attack apples:
Sooty blotch – a common problem in apple trees with poor air circulation or where humidity is high during the cool season. The fungus is responsible for the dark discoloration that makes affected apples look damaged, but it is just a surface disease.
Codling moth – Its primary host are apples, but it can also attack other fruit, including pears. The fruit not only becomes inedible, but the damaged parts of apples can contain aflatoxins, which are carcinogens produced by molds. These caterpillars will burrow into the apple, as they forge tunnels, the fruit will scar before dying.
Green Fruitworm – they may blend in, but they are larger in size so easy to spot. The fruitworm feeding on an apple tree will not seriously affect the health of the it, but they can compromise the quality and amount of your harvest.
Aphids – will form woolly clusters. The honeydew, a sugary liquid that they produce can cause sooty mold, not the same as sooty blotch. Colonies will form at wound areas on trunks. limbs, and twigs, where they will eat the bark.
To avoid ingesting harmful chemicals in pesticides, the best way to control pests and diseases on home-grown trees is organically. There are many organic methods to control pests and diseases, with the new resistant cultivars and pheromone-bated insect traps you have plenty of options to see which works best for you. You can:
- Remove and destroy webs as soon as you see them.
- Spray dormant oil, a natural pesticide, just before the buds break open to kill eggs.
- To help prevent the spread of pests and disease, dispose of all pruned wood, fallen leaves, and rotting fruit.
- Dormant and summer pruning open up the airflow, helps to prevent diseases.
- For fruitworms, shake the branches to shake them off or handpick them.
- Spray an organic Insecticidal Soap.
- Lady Bugs will go after aphids.
- Stink bugs do not like strong smelling scents, spray an essential oil mixture like peppermint, lemongrass, rosemary on the apple branches.
References:
25 fun facts you never knew about apples - EverybodyCraves (everybodyshops.com)
Fun Facts About Apples - Apple Orchard & Farm | Apple Holler
Growing Organic Apples – Mother Earth News
How to Plant, Grow, Prune, and Harvest Apples - Harvest to Table
Can I grow an apple tree from a seed? | Horticulture and Home Pest News (iastate.edu)
Your Guide to the Best Apples for Baking and Cooking (allrecipes.com)
Apple Diseases - Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck (psu.edu)
Treating Sooty Blotch Fungus - Learn About Sooty Blotch On Apples (gardeningknowhow.com)
Images - Canva
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