Plant a tree and watch it fruit (Apples)

Name: January

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Product:	Apples
Date:	29/03/03 (243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: home produced fruit

Disadvantages: none

Two years ago I was given two apple trees for my garden, I was very happy about this because if you visit your local garden centre to buy one you'll probably have to pay anything from 10 pounds to 15 pounds, for a tree which may only produce a few apples on it's first year.

The types of trees I have are Worcester Pearmain and Cox's, these are well known varieties which produce a good crop.
The Cox's should be planted with other apple trees as they are not self fertile, so they need another tree for the bee's to do their job.
During the summer months the apple trees blossom, which is a really nice sight in my garden and attracts the bees. The blossom goes and you can see the little apples growing on the tree. I feed the soil around the base of the trees with a nitrogen fertilizer to get a good crop.

If you buy a tree from a garden centre, make sure you position it in a sunny place in your garden, make sure the hole the tree is going in is deep enough to stand the roots in without squashing them. Loosen the soil in the hole and add fertilizer or horse manure and plenty of water before putting in your tree, this will make sure your tree gets a good start.
Stand the apple tree in the hole and gently fill with soil, press down the earth tightly so that the tree doesn't tilt and then fill the soil back in.
Your tree should now be in an upright position, water well again and leave it. you can now enjoy the apple blossom and fruit when it grows.
It is a good idea to find out the size the tree will grow to, as some trees will be no good for a small garden. There are types of apple trees which have been especially bred to grow straight up and bear fruit on the stems of the tree, these are ideal for the smaller garden and can be bought from the garden centre.

Once your tree has fruited and it's time to pick your apples, a farmer once told me the fruit is ready when the apples begin to come away from t
heir stem.
Pick your apples by twisting them gently from the stem, wrap them in newspaper and store in a cardboard box, separating each layer with newspaer. You will now be able to eat or cook with your own apples.

Good luck.

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