Xela's Garden
Plants In Xela's Garden
Apple Family Tree
Reminders for this plant
Due 8 months ago:
Prune
Remove damaged or crossing branches during the dormant season
Due 6 months ago:
Feed/fertilize
Keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise at the beginning of each year and water regularly during hot, dry spells.
Due 2 months ago:
Prune
Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees in shape and involves pruning the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
*
Do it: late-June - mid-August
*
Takes just: 50 minutes for medium-sized tree
How to do it
1.Cutting back main shoot by half
Cut back the leading shoots of each branch by half their length to encourage the production of side shoots. Only prune the current season's growth in this way, cutting to just above a leaf.
2.Cutting back side growth
Cut back all remaining side shoots to two or three leaves from the base of the current season's leafy growth, cutting just above the bud.
Adam's Tips
"The soft stems and leaves that are cut off apple trees during summer pruning are perfect to add to the compost heap where they'll rot down quickly."
"Always prune to an outward-facing bud so that the centre of the bush or tree is kept open. This helps reduce problems with pests and diseases."
Due 25 days ago:
Harvest
Harvest 'Discovery' apples
Due in 22 days:
Harvest
Harvest 'Cox' apples
Due in 3 months:
Prune
Remove damaged or crossing branches during the dormant season
Due in 5 months:
Feed/fertilize
Keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise at the beginning of each year and water regularly during hot, dry spells.
Due in 10 months:
Prune
Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees in shape and involves pruning the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
*
Do it: late-June - mid-August
*
Takes just: 50 minutes for medium-sized tree
How to do it
1.Cutting back main shoot by half
Cut back the leading shoots of each branch by half their length to encourage the production of side shoots. Only prune the current season's growth in this way, cutting to just above a leaf.
2.Cutting back side growth
Cut back all remaining side shoots to two or three leaves from the base of the current season's leafy growth, cutting just above the bud.
Adam's Tips
"The soft stems and leaves that are cut off apple trees during summer pruning are perfect to add to the compost heap where they'll rot down quickly."
"Always prune to an outward-facing bud so that the centre of the bush or tree is kept open. This helps reduce problems with pests and diseases."
Photos of this plant
About this plant
Genus: Malus.
Species: Malus domestica.
Planted Vistabile elliptical bed
Bought Woolworths (Cuthberts) £9.99
Three varieties grafted onto semi-dwarfing rootstock:
Cox :
upright, spreading tree is covered in pure white, cup-shaped flowers in mid and late-spring, followed by first class, juicy dessert apples for harvesting in early to mid-October.
A moderately vigorous variety producing arguably the best British eating apple.
* Soil Type: Normal
* Blossom: April - May
* Colour: pure white
* Fragrant: No
* Shape: cup-shaped
* Harvest: Oct
* Height: 3m [10']
* Spread: 2m [6'] in 5 years
* Ease of maintenance: Easy
* Leaf Colour: Blue
* Poisonous: toxic if eaten skin eye irritant
* Evergreen: Yes(?)
Discovery:
upright, spreading tree is covered in pure white, cup-shaped flowers in mid and late-spring, followed by crisp, juicy, red dessert apples. Unlike other early fruiting varieties the fruits keep well for several weeks after they're harvested in mid August. To guarantee cross pollination plant in a sunny, open site with another tree from the same flowering group (e.g. 'Worcester Pearmain').
& ............?